learn

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Archived revision by Secondhand Work (talk | contribs) as of 18:30, 14 January 2020.
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See also: Learn

English

Pronunciation

  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 229: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "RP" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: lûn, IPA(key): /lɜːn/
  • Lua error in Module:parameters at line 229: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "GA" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. enPR: lûrn, IPA(key): /lɝn/
  • Audio - 'to learn' (UK):(file)
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)n

Etymology 1

From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English lernen, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English leornian (“to acquire knowledge”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *liznaną. Cognate with German lernen (“to learn”).

Verb

learn (third-person singular simple present learns, present participle learning, simple past and past participle learned or (chiefly UK) learnt)

  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 gain knowledge from a bad experience so as to improve.
    learn from one's mistakes
  4. To be studying.
  5. To come to know; to become informed of; to find out.
    He just learned that he will be sacked.
Usage notes
  • See other, dated and regional, sense of learn below.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Derived terms
Translations
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Etymology 2

Possibly related to (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle English leren, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old English lǣran (“to teach, instruct, indoctrinate”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Germanic *laizijaną (“to teach”), from *laizō (“lore, teaching", literally, "track, trace”), from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Proto-Indo-European *leyəs- (“to track, furrow”). Cognate with Scots lere, leir, Saterland Frisian leere, West Frisian leare, Dutch leren, German lehren, Swedish lära. See also lear, lore. But normally the Middle English word would give lere, not learn.

Verb

learn (third-person singular simple present learns, present participle learning, simple past and past participle learned or learnt)

  1. (now only in non-standard speech and dialects) To teach.
    Give him a clip round the ear. That'll learn him!
    • 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, chapter IX, in Le Morte Darthur, book VIII:
      :
      And whan she had serched hym / she fond in the bottome of his wound that therin was poyson / And soo she heled hym […] / and therfore Tramtrist cast grete loue to la beale Isoud / for she was at that tyme the fairest mayde and lady of the worlde / And there Tramtryst lerned her to harpe / and she beganne to haue grete fantasye vnto hym
    • 1599, William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Act 4 Scene 1
      Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness.
    • circa 1611, William Shakespeare, Cymbeline, Act I Scene 5:
      Have I not been / Thy pupil long? Hast thou not learn’d me how / To make perfumes?
    • 1993, The Simpsons, (18 Feb. 1993) Lisa's thoughts:
      That'll learn him to bust my tomater.
Usage notes

Now often considered non-standard.

Derived terms

References

Anagrams

Bavarian

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Old High German lernēn, lirnēn, from Proto-Germanic *liznaną. Compare German lernen, English learn, Dutch leren.

Verb

learn

  1. (Sappada, Sauris) to learn

References

Scots

Pronunciation

Verb

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

  1. To learn.
  2. To teach.
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