learn

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learn / lərn/ • v. (past learned / lərnd/ or chiefly Brit. learnt / lərnt/ ) [tr.] 1. gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught: they'd started learning French| [with infin.] she is learning to play the piano [intr.] we learn from experience. ∎  commit to memory: I'd learned too many grim poems in school. ∎  become aware of (something) by information or from observation: [with clause] I learned that they had eaten already [intr.] the military learned of a plot to attack the presidential compound. 2. archaic , inf. teach (someone): “That'll learn you,” he chuckled [tr.] we'll have to learn you to milk cows. PHRASES: learn one's lessonsee lesson.DERIVATIVES: learn·a·bil·i·ty / ˌlərnəˈbilətē/ n. learn·a·ble adj. learn·er n.

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