learn
see also TEACH, SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY, EDUCATION
- to get knowledge or skill: learn (sth), learn (how) to do sth, learn about sth
I love the job, but I've still got a lot to learn. ◎ The staff were learning how to use the new computer system. ◎ Young children learn to walk when they are about 18 months old. ◎ The students were learning about Britain.
- the process of learning: learning (noun U)
to have learning difficulties
- a person who is learning sth: learner
a language learner
- a person who has just begun to learn sth: beginner
I'm just a beginner, so don't talk too quickly. ◎ He's in the beginners' class.
- at a high level: advanced
an advanced level class ◎ an advanced student
- something that you have not learned before is new (to you)
The job is all very new to me at the moment, but I'll soon learn.
- if you can learn sth without difficulty, it is easy; opposite: hard, difficult
You can learn how to use the machine very quickly - it's easy. ◎ a hard problem ◎ a difficult subject
- if you learn things easily, you are a quick learner, you learn quickly; if you do not learn things easily, you are a slow learner, you learn slowly
He doesn't learn very quickly I'm afraid - he's a bit slow.
- if you want to know or learn as much as possible about sth, you are interested (in sth), curious (about sth); the quality of being interested: interest (noun U/singular), curiosity (noun U)
to show interest ◎ She has had a lifelong interest in astronomy. ◎ She was full of curiosity.
- the natural force that causes a person to know how to do sth without thinking or learning about it: instinct (noun U/C); adjective: instinctive (adverb instinctively)
a natural instinct ◎ Ants cooperate with each other entirely by instinct. ◎ I didn't have to learn to do it - it was instinctive. ◎ He instinctively knew what to do.
※ different ways of learning
- to spend time learning about sth: study (sth)
I want to go to university and study French. ◎ He studied hard for his exams.
- a person who studies: student
※ more on studying STUDY
- to learn how to do a job: train to do sth, train (as sth)
I'm training to be a teacher. ◎ I trained as a lawyer, but I'm now a computer operator.
- a person who is being trained: trainee
a trainee teacher
- to do sth many times so that you become good at it: practise (AmE practice)(sth); noun (U): practice
If you want to improve, you have to practise. ◎ I'm going to do my piano practice.
- a piece of work that is intended to help you learn sth: exercise, task
a grammar exercise ◎ The teacher set us an interesting task.
- to learn sth by practising (not by deliberately studying it): pick sth up
'Where did you learn to speak English?' 'I just picked it up while I was living in the States.'
- to get some information by studying, searching or asking for it: find* sth (out)
Can you find the answer to the first question? ◎ Where did you find out about this?
- to know how or why sth happens (as a result of learning sth new): understand* (sth), see* (sth)
'Do you understand what I mean?' 'Oh yes, I see now.'
- to find an answer to sth, or to understand sth by thinking about it: work sth out, figure sth out
He's very clever - he figured it out all on his own.
- to read and study sth that you have learnt before, especially when preparing for an exam: revise (sth); noun (U): revision
to revise for an exam ◎ to do some revision
- to learn sth so that you can remember it exactly: learn sth by heart, memorize sth
I don't need the book - I've learned the poem by heart. ◎ I want you to memorize this phone number.
※ MORE ...
- to become familiar with sth so that you are able to do it properly: get* the hang of sth
I was just starting to get the hang of skiing when I broke my leg.
- to study or practise sth in order to get back a skill that you have lost: brush up (on) sth
I need to brush up on my French before we go to Paris.
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