learn

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 knowledge of (a subject) or skill in (an art, trade, etc.) by study, experience, instruction, etc.

2. to come to know [to learn what happened]

3. to come to know how [to learn to swim]

4. to fix in the mind; memorize

5. to acquire as a habit or attitude [to learn humility]

6. to teach: now dialectal or otherwise nonstandard

vi.

1. to gain knowledge or skill

2. to be informed; hear (of or about)

learnable

adj.

learner

n.

SYN.- LEARN, as considered here, implies a finding out of something without conscious effort [I learned of their marriage from a friend ]; ASCERTAIN implies a finding out with certainty as by careful inquiry, experimentation, or research [I ascertained the firm's credit rating ]; DETERMINE stresses intention to establish the facts exactly, often so as to settle something in doubt [to determine the exact denotation of a word ]; DISCOVER implies a finding out, by chance, exploration, etc., of something already existing or known to others [to discover a plot, a star, etc. ]; UNEARTH, in its figurative sense, implies a bringing to light, as by diligent search, of something that has been concealed, lost, or forgotten [to unearth old documents, a secret, etc. ]