academy

acad·e·my

noun \ə-ˈka-də-mē\

plural acad·e·mies

Definition of ACADEMY

1

a : a school usually above the elementary level; especially : a private high school

b : a high school or college in which special subjects or skills are taught

c : higher education —used with the <the functions of the academy in modern society>

2

capitalized

a : the school for advanced education founded by Plato

b : the philosophical doctrines associated with Plato's Academy

3

: a society of learned persons organized to advance art, science, or literature

4

: a body of established opinion widely accepted as authoritative in a particular field

Examples of ACADEMY

1. <an academy of the fine arts>

Origin of ACADEMY

Latin academia, from Greek Akadēmeia, from Akadēmeia, gymnasium where Plato taught, from Akadēmos Attic mythological hero

First Known Use: 1549

Related to ACADEMY

Synonyms

academe, school, seminary

Related Words

boarding school, prep, preparatory school, prep school; common school, elementary school, grammar school, high school, junior high school, kindergarten, middle school, primary school, public school, secondary school, senior high school, trade school, training school; charter school, magnet school, minischool; madrassa (or madrasa also madrassah or madrasah), Sunday school, yeshiva (also yeshivah)

Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis

academy

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Society of learned individuals organized to advance art, science, literature, music, or some other cultural or intellectual area of endeavour. The word comes from the name of an olive grove outside ancient Athens, the site of Plato's famous school of philosophy in the 4th century BC. Academies appeared in Italy in the 15th century and reached their greatest influence in the 17th–18th centuries. Their purpose generally was to provide training and, when applicable, to create exhibiting or performance opportunities for their members or students. Most European countries now have at least one academy sponsored by or otherwise connected with the state. See also Académie Française.