What does dorm mean?
A dorm is a room or building in a school or university where students sleep, often with shared facilities. It is a common feature of higher education institutions, providing students with a place to live and study. Dorms can be a lively and social place, with students from all over the world living together. However, they can also be a source of stress and anxiety, particularly for students who are away from home for the first time. In the US, dorms are often large buildings with multiple floors and shared facilities, while in the UK, they may be smaller buildings or rooms in larger residences. Overall, dorms play an important role in the university experience, providing students with a place to live, study, and socialize.
nounA room or building in a school or university where students sleep, often with shared facilities.
- A room or building in a school or university where students sleep, often with shared facilities.
"The dorm was a lively place to live, with students from all over the world."
"The dorm was a lively place to live, with students from all over the world."
"The university's dorms were renovated last year."
The plural form of 'dorm' is used to refer to multiple dorms or a group of students living in a dorm.
"The university has several dorms on campus."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dorm
The word 'dorm' comes from the German 'Dormitorium', which means 'sleeping place'. This term was adopted into Middle English as 'dorm', and has been used in English since the 15th century to refer to a room or building where people sleep.
Usage notes
In the US, a dorm is often a large building with multiple floors and shared facilities, while in the UK, it may be a smaller building or a room in a larger residence.