Learn

Pronunciation

• UK enPR: lûn, IPA: /ləːn/
• US enPR: lûrn, IPA: /lɝn/
• Rhymes: -ɜː(r)n

From Middle English lernen, from Old English leornian ("to acquire knowledge"), from Proto-Germanic *liznanÄ…. Compare German lernen.

Full definition of learn

Verb

1. To acquire, or attempt to acquire knowledge or an ability to do something.
2. To attend a course or other educational activity.
• 1719, Daniel Defoe, For, as he took delight to introduce me, I took delight to learn.
3. To gain knowledge from a bad experience.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

• study

Antonyms

• forget
• teach

Derived terms

• learned
• learner

From Old English læran ("to teach"), from Proto-Germanic *laizijaną. Compare Dutch leren, German lehren.

Verb

1. (now regional slang or dialect) Alternative form of lere
• 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur, Book VIII:And there Tramtryste lerned hir to harpe, and she began to have a grete fantasy unto hym.
• ShakespeareHast thou not learned me how
  To make perfumes?
• 1599, William Shakespeare, ,Sweet prince, you learn me noble thankfulness.
• 1993, The Simpsons, (18 Feb 1993) Lisa's thoughts.http://www.snpp.com/guides/brainspeaks.htmlThat'll learn him to bust my tomater.

Usage notes

Now often considered non-standard.

Derived terms

• learned

Related terms

• larn
• lore

Anagrams

• Laren
• renal