I. school 1 S1 W1 /skuːl/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ school , pre-school, ↑ schooling ; verb : ↑ school ; adjective : PRE-SCHOOL ]
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: scol , from Latin schola , from Greek schole 'discussion, school' ]
1 . WHERE CHILDREN LEARN [uncountable and countable] a place where children are taught:
His mother always used to pick him up from school.
2 . TIME AT SCHOOL [uncountable]
a) a day’s work at school:
School begins at 8.30.
before/after school
I’ll see you after school.
b) the time during your life when you go to school:
He’s one of my old friends from school.
Children start school between the ages of four and five.
3 . UNIVERSITY [uncountable and countable]
a) American English a college or university, or the time when you study there:
Their kids are away at school now.
She was going to school in Boston.
b) a department or group of departments that teaches a particular subject at a university
school of
the Harvard School of Public Health
law/medical/business/graduate school
After two years of medical school, I thought I knew everything.
4 . ONE SUBJECT [countable] a place where a particular subject or skill is taught:
a language school in Brighton
school of
Amwell School of Motoring
5 . at school
a) in the school building:
I can get some work done while the kids are at school.
b) British English attending a school, rather than being at college or university or having a job:
We’ve got two children at school, and one at university.
6 . in school
a) in the school building:
Sandra’s not in school today.
b) American English attending a school or university rather than having a job:
Are your boys still in school?
7 . ART [countable] a number of people who are considered as a group because of their similar style of work:
the Impressionist school
8 . school of thought an opinion or way of thinking about something that is shared by a group of people:
There are two main schools of thought on the subject.
9 . of/from the old school with old-fashioned values or qualities:
a family doctor of the old school
10 . FISH [countable] a large group of fish, ↑ whale s , ↑ dolphin s etc that are swimming together
school of
a school of whales
• • •
COLLOCATIONS (for Meanings 1 & 2)
■ verbs
▪ go to school
Did you go to school in Paris?
▪ attend (a) school formal (=go to a school)
Some of the children had not attended school very regularly before.
▪ start school
Children in Britain start school when they are five.
▪ leave school
He left school when he was 16.
▪ send somebody to school
His parents sent him to a private school.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + school
▪ a state school British English , a public school American English (=a school that gets its money from the government)
Universities want to encourage more applicants from state schools.
▪ a private school ( also a public school British English ) (=a school where students pay to study)
He was educated at a private school.
▪ sb’s old school (=the school someone went to when they were young)
He went back to his old school to give a talk to the children.
▪ a local school (=a school near where someone lives)
They sent their kids to the local school.
▪ a boarding school (=a school where children also live and sleep)
▪ a day school (=a school where children go during the day but go home in the evenings)
The school is both a boarding school and a day school.
▪ a nursery school (=for children under 5)
▪ an infant school British English (=for children aged 5 to 7)
▪ a primary school British English , an elementary school American English (=for children up to 11)
Their children are still at primary school.
▪ a secondary school ( also a high school British English ) (=for children from 11 to 16 or 18)
▪ a high school American English (=a school for students aged 14 to 18)
▪ a comprehensive school British English (=a secondary school for all children)
▪ a grammar school British English (=a secondary school for children who have passed an exam when they are 11)
■ school + NOUN
▪ school students ( also school pupils British English )
Most school students have musical interests of some kind.
▪ a school friend
She met some old school friends.
▪ a school uniform
He was still wearing his school uniform.
▪ the school holidays British English
The trip will take place during the school holidays.
▪ the school run British English (=the journey taking children to and from school each day)
She had to be back in time for the school run.
▪ the school playground
▪ the school library
▪ the school hall
▪ the school bus
▪ the school curriculum
Head teachers were asked to incorporate road safety education in the school curriculum.
▪ school meals/lunches ( also school dinners British English )
We provide good-quality school meals.
▪ a school governor British English (=an elected person who works with teachers to make decisions about how a school is organized)
The school governors have appointed a new head teacher.
▪ the school board American English (=the group of people who are elected to govern a school or group of schools)
The courts have upheld the school board's right to dismiss striking teachers.
▪ the school day
Most children are tired at the end of the school day.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ of animals
▪ herd a group of cows, deer, or elephants:
A herd of cows was blocking the road.
▪ team a group of people who work together:
She is being cared for by a team of doctors.
▪ flock a group of sheep or birds:
a flock of seagulls
|
The farmer has over 100 sheep in his flock.
▪ pack a group of dogs or wolves:
Some dogs are bred to work in packs.
▪ litter a group of kittens or puppies born at one time to a particular mother:
He was one of a litter of seven puppies.
▪ school/shoal a group of fish or dolphins:
Piranha fish live in shoals in the wild.
II. school 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ school , pre-school, ↑ schooling ; verb : ↑ school ; adjective : PRE-SCHOOL ]
1 . old-fashioned to train or teach someone to have a certain skill, type of behaviour, or way of thinking
be schooled in (doing) something
She was schooled in hiding her emotions.
2 . to educate a child