learn Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb gain knowledge or skills
    acquire; larn.
    • She learned dancing from her sister
    • I learned Sanskrit
    • Children acquire language at an amazing rate
  2. verb get to know or become aware of, usually accidentally
    pick up; get a line; discover; see; hear; find out; get wind; get word.
    • I learned that she has two grown-up children
    • I see that you have been promoted
  3. verb commit to memory; learn by heart
    memorise; memorize; con.
    • Have you memorized your lines for the play yet?
  4. verb be a student of a certain subject
    read; study; take.
    • She is reading for the bar exam
  5. verb impart skills or knowledge to
    teach; instruct.
    • I taught them French
    • He instructed me in building a boat
  6. verb find out, learn, or determine with certainty, usually by making an inquiry or other effort
    watch; see; determine; ascertain; find out; check.
    • 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

WordNet

Learn transitive verb
Etymology
OE. lernen, leornen, AS. leornian; akin to OS. linon, for lirnon, OHG. lirnen, lernen, G. lernen, fr. the root of AS. lran to teach, OS. lerian, OHG.leran, 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.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Learned or Learnt (); present participle & verbal noun Learning
Definitions
  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.
    Now learn a parable of the fig tree. Matt. xxiv. 32.
  2. To communicate knowledge to; to teach. Obs.
    Hast thou not learned me how To make perfumes ? Shak.
    ✍ 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.
Learn intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To acquire knowledge or skill; to make progress in acquiring knowledge or skill; to receive information or instruction; as, this child learns quickly.
    Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. Matt. xi. 29.

Webster 1913