learn

learn
learn verb.
1. The past form and past participle are in BrE either learned (pronounced lernd or lernt) or learnt (pronounced lernt); learned is more usual as the past form and, in AmE, as both past form and past participle. Examples:

• So, what was learned from this experience? —Essays & Studies, 1987

• A point that none of my bright young officers seem to have learnt at school —B. L. Barder, 1987

• Ideally, you should treat each child as an individual, with his own list of words to be learnt —M. Torbe, 1988

• She learned that the vessel had come, and was glad, for she said that the young man would speak for her —Dorothy Dunnett, 1989

• The Ministry of Defence and the Treasury will agree to finance equipment projects worth more than £30 billion this week,…The Times has learnt —Times, 2007.

2. The use of learn to mean ‘to teach’, though unexceptionable to writers of earlier ages such as Caxton, Spenser, Bunyan, and Johnson (1755), fell into disfavour around 1800 and appears in non-standard contexts in 19c literature:

• If she knows her letters it's the most she does —and them I learned her —Dickens, 1865.


Modern English usage. 2014.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • learn — W1S1 [lə:n US lə:rn] v past tense and past participle learned or learnt [lə:nt US lə:rnt] especially BrE ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(subject/skill)¦ 2¦(find out)¦ 3¦(remember)¦ 4¦(change your behaviour)¦ 5 somebody has learned their lesson 6 learn (something) the …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • learn — [ lɜrn ] (past tense and past participle learned [ lɜrnt ] ) verb *** 1. ) intransitive or transitive to gain knowledge or experience of something, for example by being taught: a bright girl who is already learning the alphabet research into how… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Learn — (l[ e]rn), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Learned} (l[ e]rnd), or {Learnt} (l[ e]rnt); 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[=ae]ran …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • learn — learn; learn·able; learn·er; learn·ing; re·learn; un·learn; …   English syllables

  • learn — [lʉrn] vt. learned or Chiefly Brit. learnt, learning [ME lernen, to learn, teach < OE leornian (akin to Ger lernen) < WGmc * liznōn (akin to Goth laisjan, to teach) < IE base * leis , track, furrow > L lira, furrow] 1. to get… …   English World dictionary

  • Learn — 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. [1913 Webster] Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. Matt. xi. 29. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • learn — lərn vb, learned lərnd, lərnt also learnt lərnt; learn·ing vt to acquire (a change in behavior) by learning vi to acquire a behavioral tendency by learning learn·er n …   Medical dictionary

  • learn´ed|ly — learn|ed «LUR nihd», adjective. showing or requiring knowledge; scholarly; erudite: »a learned professor, learned pursuits. SYNONYM(S): educated. –learn´ed|ly, adverb. –learn´ed|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • learn|ed — «LUR nihd», adjective. showing or requiring knowledge; scholarly; erudite: »a learned professor, learned pursuits. SYNONYM(S): educated. –learn´ed|ly, adverb. –learn´ed|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • learn — (v.) O.E. leornian to get knowledge, be cultivated, study, read, think about, from P.Gmc. *liznojan (Cf. O.Fris. lernia, M.Du. leeren, Du. leren, O.H.G. lernen, Ger. lernen to learn, Goth. lais I know ), with a base sense of to follow or find the …   Etymology dictionary

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