learn

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Contents

English [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

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))

  1. To acquire, or attempt to acquire knowledge or an ability to do something.
  2. To attend a course or other educational activity.
  3. To make use of a bad experience.
  4. To improve, maybe used in an order.
    Learn how to do it better!
  5. To be studying.
  6. 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]
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.

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)

  1. (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.
Usage notes [edit]
  • Now often considered non-standard.
Derived terms [edit]
Related terms [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ [1]

Anagrams [edit]


Scots [edit]

Pronunciation [edit]

Verb [edit]

tae learn (third-person singular simple present learns, present participle learnin, simple past learnt, past participle learnt)

  1. To learn.
  2. To teach.