From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Learn \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 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.
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Now learn a parable of the fig tree. --Matt. xxiv.
32.
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2. To communicate knowledge to; to teach. [Obs.]
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Hast thou not learned me how
To make perfumes ? --Shak.
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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.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
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To learn by heart. See By heart, under Heart.
To learn by rote, to memorize by repetition without
exercise of the understanding.
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From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
learn
v 1: gain knowledge or skills; "She learned dancing from her
sister"; "I learned Sanskrit"; "Children acquire language
at an amazing rate" [syn: learn, larn, acquire]
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" [syn: learn, hear, get word, {get
wind}, pick up, find out, get a line, discover,
see]
3: commit to memory; learn by heart; "Have you memorized your
lines for the play yet?" [syn: memorize, memorise, con,
learn]
4: be a student of a certain subject; "She is reading for the
bar exam" [syn: learn, study, read, take]
5: impart skills or knowledge to; "I taught them French"; "He
instructed me in building a boat" [syn: teach, learn,
instruct]
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, check, find out, see, ascertain,
watch, learn]