to acquire knowledge of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience: to learn French; to learn to ski.
2.
to become informed of or acquainted with; ascertain: to learn the truth.
3.
to memorize: He learned the poem so he could recite it at the dinner.
4.
to gain (a habit, mannerism, etc.) by experience, exposure to example, or the like; acquire: She learned patience from her father.
5.
(of a device or machine, esp. a computer) to perform an analogue of human learning with artificial intelligence.
6.
Nonstandard. to instruct in; teach.
–verb (used without object)
7.
to acquire knowledge or skill: to learn rapidly.
8.
to become informed (usually fol. by of): to learn of an accident.
[Origin: bef. 900; ME lernen, OE leornian to learn, read, ponder (c. G lernen); akin to lesan to glean (c. G lesen to read). See lear]
—Related forms
learn·a·ble, adjective
—Synonyms 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.
O.E. leornian "to get knowledge, be cultivated," from P.Gmc. *liznojan (cf. O.Fris. lernia, O.H.G. lernen, Ger. lernen "to learn," Goth. lais "I know), with a base sense of "to follow or find the track," from PIE *leis- "track." Related to Ger. Gleis "track," and to O.E. læst "sole of the foot" (see last (n.)). The transitive sense (He learned me how to read), now vulgar, was acceptable from c.1200 until early 19c., from O.E. læran "to teach" (cf. M.E. lere, Ger. lehren "to teach;" see lore), and is preserved in the adj. learned "having knowledge gained by study" (c.1340).
gain knowledge or skills; "She learned dancing from her sister"; "I learned Sanskrit"; "Children acquire language at an amazing rate"
2.
get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally; "I learned that she has two grown-up children"; "I see that you have been promoted"
3.
commit to memory; learn by heart; "Have you memorized your lines for the play yet?" [syn: memorize]
4.
be a student of a certain subject; "She is reading for the bar exam"
5.
impart skills or knowledge to; "I taught them French"; "He instructed me in building a boat" [syn: teach]
6.
find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort; "I want to see whether she speaks French"; "See whether it works"; "find out if he speaks Russian"; "Check whether the train leaves on time" [syn: determine]
Main Entry: learn Pronunciation: 'l&rn Function: verb Inflected Form: learned/'l&rnd, 'l&rnt/alsolearnt/'l&rnt/; learn·ing transitive senses : to acquire (a change in behavior) by learning learnintransitive senses : to
acquire a behavior tendency by learning —learn·ernoun
Last\, n. [AS. l[=a]sttrace, track, footstep; akin to D. leest a last, G. leisten, Sw. l["a]st, Dan. l[ae]st, Icel. leistr the foot below the ankle, Goth. laists track, way; from a root signifying, to go. Cf. Last, v. i., Learn, Delirium.] A wooden block shaped like the human foot, on which boots and shoes are formed. The cobbler is not to go beyond his last. --L'Estrange. Darning last, a smooth, hard body, often egg-shaped, put into a stocking to preserve its shape in darning.
Learn\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Learned, or Learnt (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Learning.] [OE. lernen, leornen, AS. leornian; akin to OS. lin[=o]n, for lirn[=o]n, OHG. lirn[=e]n, lern[=e]n, G. lernen, fr. the root of AS. l?ran to teach, OS. l[=e]rian, OHG. l[=e]ran, G. lehren, Goth. laisjan, also Goth lais I know, leis acquainted (in comp.); all prob. from a root meaning, to go, go over, and hence, to learn; cf. AS. leoran to go . Cf. Last a mold of the foot, lore.]1. To gain knowledge or information of; to ascertain by inquiry, study, or investigation; to receive instruction concerning; to fix in the mind; to acquire understanding of, or skill; as, to learn the way; to learn a lesson; to learn dancing; to learn to skate; to learn the violin; to learn the truth about something. "Learn to do well." --Is. i. 17. Now learn a parable of the fig tree. --Matt. xxiv. 32. 2. To communicate knowledge to; to teach. [Obs.] Hast thou not learned me how To make perfumes ? --Shak. Note: Learn formerly had also the sense of teach, in accordance with the analogy of the French and other languages, and hence we find it with this sense in Shakespeare, Spenser, and other old writers. This usage has now passed away. To learn is to receive instruction, and to teach is to give instruction. He who is taught learns, not he who teaches.
Learn\, v. i. To acquire knowledge or skill; to make progress in acquiring knowledge or skill; to receive information or instruction; as, this child learns quickly. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. --Matt. xi. 29. To learn by heart. See By heart, under Heart. To learn by rote, to memorize by repetition without exercise of the understanding.
Lore\, n. [OE. lore, lare, AS. l[=a]r, fr. l?ran to teach; akin to D. leer teaching, doctrine, G. lehre, Dan. l[ae]re, Sw. l["a]ra. See Learn, and cf. Lere, v. t.]1. That which is or may be learned or known; the knowledge gained from tradition, books, or experience; often, the whole body of knowledge possessed by a people or class of people, or pertaining to a particular subject; as, the lore of the Egyptians; priestly lore; legal lore; folklore. "The lore of war." --Fairfax. His fair offspring, nursed in princely lore. --Milton. 2. That which is taught; hence, instruction; wisdom; advice; counsel. --Chaucer. If please ye, listen to my lore. --Spenser. 3. Workmanship. [Obs.] --Spenser.
Teach\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Taught; p. pr. & vb. n. Teaching.] [OE. techen, imp. taughte, tahte, AS. t?cean, imp. t?hte, to show, teach, akin to t[=a]cn token. See Token.]1. To impart the knowledge of; to give intelligence concerning; to impart, as knowledge before unknown, or rules for practice; to inculcate as true or important; to exhibit impressively; as, to teach arithmetic, dancing, music, or the like; to teach morals. If some men teach wicked things, it must be that others should practice them. --South. 2. To direct, as an instructor; to manage, as a preceptor; to guide the studies of; to instruct; to inform; to conduct through a course of studies; as, to teach a child or a class. "He taught his disciples." --Mark ix. 31. The village master taught his little school. --Goldsmith. 3. To accustom; to guide; to show; to admonish. I shall myself to herbs teach you. --Chaucer. They have taught their tongue to speak lies. --Jer. ix. 5. Note: This verb is often used with two objects, one of the person, the other of the thing; as, he taught me Latin grammar. In the passive construction, either of these objects may be retained in the objective case, while the other becomes the subject; as, I was taught Latin grammar by him; Latin grammar was taught me by him. Syn: To instruct; inform; inculcate; tell; guide; counsel; admonish. See the Note under Learn.
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Audio Help [lurn] Pronunciation Key verb, learned 
