teach Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an English pirate who operated in the Caribbean and off the Atlantic coast of North America (died in 1718)
    Thatch; Edward Teach; Edward Thatch; Blackbeard.
  2. verb impart skills or knowledge to
    instruct; learn.
    • I taught them French
    • He instructed me in building a boat
  3. verb accustom gradually to some action or attitude
    • The child is taught to obey her parents

WordNet


Teach transitive verb
Etymology
OE. techen, imp. taughte, tahte, AS. tcean, imp. thte, to show, teach, akin to tacn token. See Token.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Taught ; present participle & verbal noun Teaching
Definitions
  1. To impart the knowledge of; to give intelligence concerning; to impart, as knowledge before unknown, or rules for practice; to inculcate as true or important; to exhibit impressively; as, to teach arithmetic, dancing, music, or the like; to teach morals.
    If some men teach wicked things, it must be that others should practice them. South.
  2. To direct, as an instructor; to manage, as a preceptor; to guide the studies of; to instruct; to inform; to conduct through a course of studies; as, to teach a child or a class. "He taught his disciples." Mark ix. 31.
    The village master taught his little school. Goldsmith.
  3. To accustom; to guide; to show; to admonish.
    I shall myself to herbs teach you. Chaucer.
    They have taught their tongue to speak lies. Jer. ix. 5.
    ✍ This verb is often used with two objects, one of the person, the other of the thing; as, he taught me Latin grammar. In the passive construction, either of these objects may be retained in the objective case, while the other becomes the subject; as, I was taught Latin grammar by him; Latin grammar was taught me by him. Syn. -- To instruct; inform; inculcate; tell; guide; counsel; admonish. See the Note under Learn.
Teach intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To give instruction; to follow the business, or to perform the duties, of a preceptor.
    And gladly would he learn, and gladly teach. Chaucer.
    The priests thereof teach for hire. Micah iii. 11.

Webster 1913