Dictionary
Thesaurus
Reference
Translate
Web
Related Searches
on Ask.com
Browse Nearby Entries
discipline
2 dictionary results for: disciplining
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This
dis·ci·pline       [dis-uh-plin] Pronunciation Key noun, verb, -plined, -plin·ing.
–noun
1.training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
2.activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.
3.punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
4.the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.: the harsh discipline of poverty.
5.behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control: good discipline in an army.
6.a set or system of rules and regulations.
7.Ecclesiastical. the system of government regulating the practice of a church as distinguished from its doctrine.
8.an instrument of punishment, esp. a whip or scourge, used in the practice of self-mortification or as an instrument of chastisement in certain religious communities.
9.a branch of instruction or learning: the disciplines of history and economics.
–verb (used with object)
10.to train by instruction and exercise; drill.
11.to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.
12.to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.
[Origin: 1175–1225; ME < AF < L disciplīna instruction, tuition, equiv. to discipul(us) disciple + -ina -ine2]

—Related forms
dis·ci·pli·nal       [dis-uh-pluh-nl, -plin-l, dis-uh-plahyn-l] Pronunciation Key, adjective
dis·ci·plin·er, noun

—Synonyms 3. chastisement, castigation. 12. See punish.
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT
American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
dis·ci·pline       (dĭs'ə-plĭn)  Pronunciation Key 
n.  
  1. Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement.
  2. Controlled behavior resulting from disciplinary training; self-control.
    1. Control obtained by enforcing compliance or order.
    2. A systematic method to obtain obedience: a military discipline.
    3. A state of order based on submission to rules and authority: a teacher who demanded discipline in the classroom.
  4. Punishment intended to correct or train.
  5. A set of rules or methods, as those regulating the practice of a church or monastic order.
  6. A branch of knowledge or teaching.

tr.v.   dis·ci·plined, dis·ci·plin·ing, dis·ci·plines
  1. To train by instruction and practice, especially to teach self-control to.
  2. To teach to obey rules or accept authority. See Synonyms at teach.
  3. To punish in order to gain control or enforce obedience. See Synonyms at punish.
  4. To impose order on: needed to discipline their study habits.


[Middle English, from Old French descepline, from Latin disciplīna, from discipulus, pupil; see disciple.]

dis'ci·pli·nal (-plə-nəl) adj., dis'ci·plin'er n.
(Download Now or Buy the Book)
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
CITE THIS SOURCE|PRINT
Share This:Share This: digg.comShare This: ma.gnolia.comShare This: www.stumbleupon.comShare This: del.icio.usShare This: FacebookShare This: favorites.live.comShare This: www.technorati.comShare This: furl.netShare This: myweb2.search.yahoo.comShare This: www.google.com