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knowledge

 - 6 dictionary results

knowl⋅edge

  [nol-ij]
Use knowledge in a Sentence
–noun
1. acquaintance with facts, truths, or principles, as from study or investigation; general erudition: knowledge of many things.
2. familiarity or conversance, as with a particular subject or branch of learning: A knowledge of accounting was necessary for the job.
3. acquaintance or familiarity gained by sight, experience, or report: a knowledge of human nature.
4. the fact or state of knowing; the perception of fact or truth; clear and certain mental apprehension.
5. awareness, as of a fact or circumstance: He had knowledge of her good fortune.
6. something that is or may be known; information: He sought knowledge of her activities.
7. the body of truths or facts accumulated in the course of time.
8. the sum of what is known: Knowledge of the true situation is limited.
9. Archaic. sexual intercourse. Compare carnal knowledge.
–adjective
10. creating, involving, using, or disseminating special knowledge or information: A computer expert can always find a good job in the knowledge industry.
—Idiom
11. to one's knowledge, according to the information available to one: To my knowledge he hasn't been here before.
Origin:
1250–1300; ME knouleche, equiv. to know(en) to know 1 + -leche, perh. akin to OE -lāc suffix denoting action or practice, c. ON (-)leikr; cf. wedlock

Related forms:
know⋅ledge⋅less, adjective

Synonyms:
1. See information. 4. understanding, discernment, comprehension; erudition, scholarship.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To knowledge
knowl·edge   (nŏl'ĭj)   
n.  

  1. The state or fact of knowing.

  2. Familiarity, awareness, or understanding gained through experience or study.

  3. The sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned.

  4. Learning; erudition: teachers of great knowledge.

  5. Specific information about something.

  6. Carnal knowledge.


[Middle English knoulech : knouen, to know; see know + -leche, n. suff.]
Synonyms: These nouns refer to what is known, as through study or experience. Knowledge is the broadest: "Science is organized knowledge" (Herbert Spencer).
Information often implies a collection of facts and data: "A man's judgment cannot be better than the information on which he has based it" (Arthur Hays Sulzberger).
Learning usually refers to knowledge gained by schooling and study: "Learning ... must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence" (Abigail Adams).
Erudition implies profound, often specialized knowledge: "Some have criticized his poetry as elitist, unnecessarily impervious to readers who do not share his erudition" (Elizabeth Kastor).
Lore is usually applied to knowledge gained through tradition or anecdote about a particular subject: Many American folktales concern the lore of frontier life.
Scholarship is the mastery of a particular area of learning reflected in a scholar's work: A good journal article shows ample evidence of the author's scholarship.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

knowledge 
M.E. cnawlece. For first element see know. Second element obscure, perhaps cognate with the -lock "action, process," found in wedlock.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: know·ledge
Function: noun
1 a : awareness or understanding esp. of an act, a fact, or the truth : ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE 1 in this entry b : awareness that a fact or circumstance probably exists; broadly : CONSTRUCTIVE KNOWLEDGE in this entry —see also SCIENTER, WILLFUL BLINDNESS
NOTE: Knowledge fundamentally differs from intent in being grounded in awareness rather than purpose.
ac·tu·al knowledge
1 : direct and clear awareness (as of a fact or condition) actual knowledge that the name and account number referred to different persons>
2 : awareness of such information as would cause a reasonable person to inquire further; specifically : such awareness considered as a timely and sufficient substitute for actual notice (as of a work-related injury or of a bankruptcy proceeding) actual knowledge within 90 days>
con·struc·tive knowledge
: knowledge (as of a condition or fact) that one using ordinary care or diligence would possess constructive knowledge of the presence of narcotics on his property>
per·son·al knowledge
: direct knowledge of a matter or of the truth or falsity of an allegation personal knowledge of the matter —Federal Rules of Evidence Rule 602>
su·pe·ri·or knowledge
: knowledge greater than that possessed by another; especially : awareness of a condition or fact that affects another who was not aware of it superior knowledge of the hazard> <superior knowledge of a factor in the performance of a contract>
2 : the range of one's information, understanding, or expertise knowledge>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Computing Dictionary

knowledge artificial intelligence, information science
The objects, concepts and relationships that are assumed to exist in some area of interest. A collection of knowledge, represented using some knowledge representation language is known as a knowledge base and a program for extending and/or querying a knowledge base is a knowledge-based system.
Knowledge differs from data or information in that new knowledge may be created from existing knowledge using logical inference. If information is data plus meaning then knowledge is information plus processing.
A common form of knowledge, e.g. in a Prolog program, is a collection of facts and rules about some subject.
For example, a knowledge base about a family might contain the facts that John is David's son and Tom is John's son and the rule that the son of someone's son is their grandson. From this knowledge it could infer the new fact that Tom is David's grandson.
See also Knowledge Level.
(1994-10-19)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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Idioms & Phrases

knowledge

see little knowledge is a dangerous thing; to the best of (one's knowledge).

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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