learn
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Contents |
English [edit]
Pronunciation [edit]
- (UK) enPR: lûn, IPA: /ləːn/, X-SAMPA: /l@:n/
- (US) enPR: lûrn, IPA: /lɝn/, X-SAMPA: /l3rn/
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Audio - 'to learn' (UK) (file) -
Audio (US) (file) - Rhymes: -ɜː(r)n
Etymology 1 [edit]
Middle English lernen, from Old English leornian (“to acquire knowledge”). Compare German lernen.
Verb [edit]
learn (third-person singular simple present learns, present participle learning, simple past and past participle learned or learnt (chiefly UK))
- To acquire, or attempt to acquire knowledge or an ability to do something.
- To attend a course or other educational activity.
- 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
- For, as he took delight to introduce me, I took delight to learn.
- 1719, Daniel Defoe, Robinson Crusoe
- To make use of a bad experience.
- To improve, maybe used in an order.
- Learn how to do it better!
- To be studying.
- To come to know; to become informed of; to find out.
- He just learned that he will be sacked.
Synonyms [edit]
Antonyms [edit]
Derived terms [edit]
Usage notes [edit]
- See other, dated and regional, sense of learn below.
Translations [edit]
to acquire knowledge or ability
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to attend educational activity
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to make use of a bad experience
to improve
to be studying
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to come to know; to become informed of; to find out
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked
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Etymology 2 [edit]
From Old English læran (“to teach”). Compare German lehren.
Verb [edit]
learn (third-person singular simple present learns, present participle learning, simple past and past participle learned or learnt)
- (now regional slang or dialect) To teach.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VIII:
- And there Tramtryste lerned hir to harpe, and she began to have a grete fantasy unto hym.
- 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 4 Scene 1
- Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness.
- 2002, The Simpsons, (1 Feb 2002) Lisa's thoughts.[1]
- That'll learn him to bust my tomater.
- 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VIII:
Usage notes [edit]
- Now often considered non-standard.
Derived terms [edit]
Related terms [edit]
References [edit]
- learn in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
- learn in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
- Family Word Finder Readers Digest Association Inc. NY 1975
- Notes:
Anagrams [edit]
Scots [edit]
Pronunciation [edit]
- IPA: /lɛrn/
Verb [edit]
tae learn (third-person singular simple present learns, present participle learnin, simple past learnt, past participle learnt)
