learn

learn
verb past tense and past participle learned or learnt especially BrE
1 SUBJECT/SKILL (I, T) to gain knowledge of a subject, or skill in an activity, by experience, by studying it, or by being taught: What's the best way to learn a language? | Children are usually very quick at learning.
(+ about): I am very keen to learn about the town's history. | learn (how) to do sth: I learnt to drive when I was 17. | learn how/what/who etc: In the first lesson we'll learn how to format a text file. -compare teach, -see know 1
2 FIND OUT (I, T) formal to find out information, news etc by hearing it from someone else
(+ of/about): We were all saddened to learn of her death. | learn sth: Where did you learn the news? | learn (that): May was pleased to learn that he had arrived safely. | learn who/what/whether etc: We have yet to learn who will be the new manager.
3 REMEMBER (T) to get to know something so well that you can easily remember it; memorize: The actor was busy learning her lines.
4 CHANGE YOUR BEHAVIOUR (T) to gradually understand a situation and start behaving in the way that people expect you to behave: learn (that): They have to learn that they can't just do whatever they like. | learn to do sth: gamblers who had learned to modify their behaviour
5 learn from your mistakes to improve the way you do things because of mistakes you have made
6 learn (sth) the hard way to understand a situation or develop a skill by learning from your mistakes and bad experiences
7 learn your lesson to suffer so much because you did something wrong or stupid, that you will not do it again: I really learned my lesson when I got sunburned last year on vacation.
-see also: live and learn live 1 (27)

Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.

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  • 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

  • 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… …   Modern English usage

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