| learn | 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." "Now learn a parable of the fig tree." (Matt. Xxiv. 32) 2. To communicate knowledge to; to teach. "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. Origin: 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. 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) To learn by heart. See By heart, under Heart. To learn by rote, to memorize by repetition without exercise of the understanding. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| learned drive | Causing motion; having power to move, or tending to move; as, a motive argument; motive power. "Motive faculty. <machinery> " Motive power, a natural agent, as water, steam, wind, electricity, etc, used to impart motion to machinery; a motor; a mover. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| learned helplessness | A laboratory model of depression involving both classical (respondent) and instrumental (operant) conditioning techniques; application of unavoidable shock is followed by failure to cope in situations where coping might otherwise be possible. (05 Mar 2000) |
| learning | 1. The acquisition of knowledge or skill; as, the learning of languages; the learning of telegraphy. 2. The knowledge or skill received by instruction or study; acquired knowledge or ideas in any branch of science or literature; erudition; literature; science; as, he is a man of great learning. Book learning. See Book. Synonym: Literature, erudition, lore, scholarship, science, letters. See Literature. Origin: AS. Leornung. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| learning disability | A disorder in one or more of the basic cognitive and psychological processes involved in understanding or using written or spoken language; may be manifested in age-related impairment in the ability to read, write, spell, speak, or perform mathematical calculations. (05 Mar 2000) |
| learning disorders | Impairment of learning ability due to emotional, environmental or physiological factors. (12 Dec 1998) |
| learning set | A readiness or predisposition to learn developed from previous learning experiences, as when an organism learns to solve each successive problem (of equal or increasing difficulty) in fewer trials. (05 Mar 2000) |
| learning theory | Any of several prominent theories designed to explain learning, especially those promulgated by Pavlov, Thorndike, Guthrie, Hull, Kohler, Spence, Miller, Skinner, and their modern followers. See: conditioning. (05 Mar 2000) |