learning

[ lur-ning ]
/ ˈlɜr nɪŋ /

noun

knowledge acquired by systematic study in any field of scholarly application.
the act or process of acquiring knowledge or skill.
Psychology. the modification of behavior through practice, training, or experience.

Origin of learning

before 900; Middle English lerning, Old English leornung. See learn, -ing1

SYNONYMS FOR learning

1 Learning, erudition, lore, scholarship refer to knowledge existing or acquired. Learning is the most general term. It may refer to knowledge obtained by systematic study or by trial and error: a man of learning; learning in the real world. Erudition suggests a thorough, formal, and profound sort of knowledge obtained by extensive research; it is especially applied to knowledge in fields other than those of mathematics and physical sciences: a man of vast erudition in languages. Lore is accumulated knowledge in a particular field, especially of a curious, anecdotal, or traditional nature; the word is now somewhat literary: nature lore; local lore. Scholarship is the formalized learning that is taught in schools, especially as actively employed by a person trying to master some field of knowledge or extend its bounds: high standards of scholarship in history.

OTHER WORDS FROM learning

un·learn·ing, adjective

Definition for learning (2 of 2)

learn
[ lurn ]
/ lɜrn /

verb (used with object), learned [lurnd] /lɜrnd/ or learnt, learn·ing.

verb (used without object), learned [lurnd] /lɜrnd/ or learnt, learn·ing.

to acquire knowledge or skill: to learn rapidly.
to become informed (usually followed by of): to learn of an accident.

Origin of learn

before 900; Middle English lernen, Old English leornian to learn, read, ponder (cognate with German lernen); akin to lesan to glean (cognate with German lesen to read). See lear

synonym study for learn

1. Learn, ascertain, detect, discover imply adding to one's store of facts. To learn is to add to one's knowledge or information: to learn a language. To ascertain is to verify facts by inquiry or analysis: to ascertain the truth about an event. To detect implies becoming aware of something that had been obscure, secret, or concealed: to detect a flaw in reasoning. To discover is used with objective clauses as a synonym of learn in order to suggest that the new information acquired is surprising to the learner: I discovered that she had been married before.

OTHER WORDS FROM learn

learn·a·ble, adjective mis·learn, verb, mis·learned or mis·learnt, mis·learn·ing. out·learn, verb (used with object), out·learned or out·learnt, out·learn·ing. re·learn, verb, re·learned or re·learnt, re·learn·ing.

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH learn

learn teach

Example sentences from the Web for learning

British Dictionary definitions for learning (1 of 2)

learning
/ (ˈlɜːnɪŋ) /

noun

knowledge gained by study; instruction or scholarship
the act of gaining knowledge
psychol any relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs as a direct result of experience

British Dictionary definitions for learning (2 of 2)

learn
/ (lɜːn) /

verb learns, learning, learned (lɜːnd) or learnt

(when tr, may take a clause as object) to gain knowledge of (something) or acquire skill in (some art or practice)
(tr) to commit to memory
(tr) to gain by experience, example, etc
(intr; often foll by of or about) to become informed; know
not standard to teach

Derived forms of learn

learnable, adjective

Word Origin for learn

Old English leornian; related to Old High German lirnen

Medical definitions for learning

learning
[ lûrnĭng ]

n.

The act, process, or experience of gaining knowledge or skill.
Knowledge or skill gained through schooling or study.
Behavioral modification, especially through experience or conditioning.

Idioms and Phrases with learning

learn