v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Learned or Learnt (l&etilde_;rnt); p. pr. & vb. n. Learning. ] [ OE. lernen, leornen, AS. leornian; akin to OS. linōn, for lirnōn, OHG. lirnēn, lernēn, G. lernen, fr. the root of AS. l&aemacr_;ran to teach, OS. lērian, OHG. lēran, 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. ] 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.” Is. i. 17. [ 1913 Webster ]

Now learn a parable of the fig tree. Matt. xxiv. 32. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To communicate knowledge to; to teach. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Hast thou not learned me how
To make perfumes ? Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ 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. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To acquire knowledge or skill; to make progress in acquiring knowledge or skill; to receive information or instruction; as, this child learns quickly. [ 1913 Webster ]

Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. Matt. xi. 29. [ 1913 Webster ]

To learn by heart. See By heart, under Heart. --
To learn by rote, to memorize by repetition without exercise of the understanding. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Such as can be learned. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to learning; possessing, or characterized by, learning, esp. scholastic learning; erudite; well-informed; as, a learned scholar, writer, or lawyer; a learned book; a learned theory. [ 1913 Webster ]

The learnedlover lost no time. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Men of much reading are greatly learned, but may be little knowing. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Words of learned length and thundering sound. Goldsmith. [ 1913 Webster ]

The learned, learned men; men of erudition; scholars.

-- Learn"ed*ly, adv. Learn"ed*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every coxcomb swears as learnedly as they. Swift. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. profound knowledge.
Syn. -- eruditeness, erudition, learning, scholarship. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. One who learns; a scholar. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. leornung. ] 1. The acquisition of knowledge or skill; as, the learning of languages; the learning of telegraphy. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

Book learning. See under Book.

Syn. -- Literature; erudition; lore; scholarship; science; letters. See Literature. [ 1913 Webster ]