a ‧ cad ‧ e ‧ my /əˈkædəmi/ BrE AmE noun ( plural academies ) [countable]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ academy , ↑ academia , ↑ academic , ↑ academe , ↑ academician ; adverb : ↑ academically ; adjective : ↑ academic ≠ UNACADEMIC ]
[ Date: 1500-1600 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: academia , from Greek Akademeia school in Athens at which the ancient Greek thinker Plato taught, named for Akademos a hero in Athenian stories ]
1 . an official organization which encourages the development of literature, art, science etc:
the American Academy of Arts and Letters
2 . a college where students are taught a particular subject or skill:
a military academy
the Royal Academy of Music
3 . a school in Scotland for children between 11 and 16
4 . a private school in the US
5 . previously city academy in England, a state secondary school that is run with help and money from private organizations or people