school

noun \ ˈskül \

Definition of school

1 :an organization that provides instruction: such as

a :an institution for the teaching of children

b :college, university

c (1) :a group of scholars and teachers pursuing knowledge together that with similar groups constituted a medieval university

(2) :one of the four faculties of a medieval university

(3) :an institution for specialized higher education often associated with a university

the school of engineering

d :an establishment offering specialized instruction

a secretarial school

driving schools

2 a (1) :the process of teaching or learning especially at a school

(2) :attendance at a school

(3) :a session of a school

b :a school building

c :the students attending a school; also :its teachers and students

3 :a source of knowledge

experience was his school

4 a :a group of persons who hold a common doctrine or follow the same teacher (as in philosophy, theology, or medicine)

the Aristotelian school

; also :the doctrine or practice of such a group

b :a group of artists under a common influence

c :a group of persons of similar opinions or behavior; also :the shared opinions or behavior of such a group

other schools of thought

5 :the regulations governing military drill of individuals or units; also :the exercises carried out

the school of the soldier

Origin and Etymology of school

Middle English scole, from Old English scōl, from Latin schola, from Greek scholē leisure, discussion, lecture, school; perhaps akin to Greek echein to hold — more at scheme

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Education Terms

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

school

verb

Definition of school

transitive verb

1 a :to teach or drill in a specific knowledge or skill

well schooled in languages

b :to discipline or habituate to something

school oneself in patience

2 :to educate in an institution of learning

First Known Use of school

15th century

Synonym Discussion of school

teach, instruct, educate, train, discipline, school mean to cause to acquire knowledge or skill. teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn.

- taught us a lot about our planet

instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching.

- instructs raw recruits in military drill

educate implies development of the mind.

- more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person

train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view.

- trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft

discipline implies training in habits of order and precision.

- a disciplined mind

school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master.

- schooled the horse in five gaits

Other Education Terms

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

school

noun

Definition of school

:a large number of fish or aquatic animals of one kind swimming together

Origin and Etymology of school

Middle English scole, from Middle Dutch schole; akin to Old English scolu multitude and probably to Old English scylian to separate — more at skill

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

school

verb

Definition of school

intransitive verb

:to swim or feed in a school

bluefish are schooling

First Known Use of school

1597

SCHOOL Defined for Kids

school

noun \ ˈskül \

Definition of school for Students

1 :a place for teaching and learning

2 :a session of teaching and learning

night school

You'll be late for school.

3 :schoolhouse

4 :the teachers and pupils of a school

The entire school was at the rally.

5 :a group of persons who share the same opinions and beliefs

a new school of philosophy

History for school

You may not think of your education as relaxation, but, believe it or not, the word school can be traced back to a Greek word meaning “leisure.” Ancient Greek scholē, “rest, leisure,” came to be applied to the philosophical discussions in which the best of Greek society spent their free time (of which they had a great deal, since slaves did most of the real work). The meaning of scholē was extended to the groups who listened to a particular philosopher, and later to the set of beliefs held by such a group. When Latin schola was borrowed from Greek, the emphasis fell more on the place where a philosopher spoke, and it is the sense “place of instruction” that was ultimately passed to English.

school

verb

Definition of school for Students

schooled; schooling

:teach 2, train Has he been schooled in proper behavior?

school

noun

Definition of school for Students

:a large number of one kind of fish or water animals swimming together

History for school

A group of fish is called a school not because they resemble students in a classroom. The word school in this sense is borrowed from a Dutch word that means “crowd” or “throng.”