| 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) |
| leasing, property | Contractual arrangement between the lessor (owner) and the lessee in which the use of equipment or facilities is granted to the lessee for a period of time and at a specified rate. (12 Dec 1998) |
| least | Origin: OE. Last, lest, AS. Lsast, lsest, superl. Of lssa less. See Less] Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space. Least is often used with the, as if a noun. "I am the least of the apostles." (1 Cor. Xv. 9) at least, or At the least, at the least estimate, consideration, chance, etc.; hence, at any rate; at all events; even. See However. "He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses The tempted with dishonor." (Milton) "Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he were a man, who sat as on horseback." (Sir P. Sidney) In least, or In the least, in the least degree, manner, etc. "He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." . <mathematics> Least squares, a method of deducing from a number of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown quantities. It takes as its fundamental principle that the most probable values are those which make the sum of the squares of the residual errors of the observation a minimum. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| least cost planning | (integrated resource planning) A method of power planning that recognises load uncertainty, embodies an emphasis on risk management, and reviews all available and reliable resources to meet future loads. It takes into consideration all costs of a resource, including capital, labour, fuel, maintenance, decommissioning, known environmental impacts, and the difficulty in quantifying the consequences of selecting one resource over another. Least cost planning seeks to minimise total energy costs. (05 Dec 1998) |
| least diffusion circle | In the configuration of rays emerging from a spherocylindrical lens system, the place where diverging rays of the lens first forming a line image are balanced by converging rays of the second lens. (05 Mar 2000) |
| least squares | A principle of estimation invented by Gauss in which the estimates of a set of parameters in a statistical model are the quantities that minimise the sum of squared differences between the observed values of the dependent variable and the values predicted by the model. (05 Mar 2000) |
| least-squares analysis | A principle of estimation in which the estimates of a set of parameters in a statistical model are those quantities minimizing the sum of squared differences between the observed values of a dependent variable and the values predicted by the model. (12 Dec 1998) |
| leather | 1. The skin of an animal, or some part of such skin, tanned, tawed, or otherwise dressed for use; also, dressed hides, collectively. 2. The skin. Leather is much used adjectively in the sense of made of, relating to, or like, leather. Leather board, an imitation of sole leather, made of leather scraps, rags, paper, etc. Leather carp (a) A California carangoid fish (Oligoplites saurus). A trigger fish (Balistes Carolinensis). <botany> Leather flower See Leatherback. Vegetable leather. An imitation of leather made of cotton waste. Linen cloth coated with India rubber. Origin: OE. Lether, AS. Leer; akin to D. Leder, leer, G. Leder, OHG. Ledar, Icel. Ler, Sw. Lader, Dan. Laeder. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |