əˈkadəmē, -mi noun
( -es )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: in sense 1, from Latin academia, from Greek Akadēmeia, Akadēmia, from the name of the gymnasium near Athens where Plato taught, from Akadēmos Attic mythological hero + Greek -eia or -ia -y; in sense 2, partly from New Latin academia university, partly from French académie university, academy, from Italian & New Latin; Italian accademia university, academy, from New Latin; in senses 3 & 4, from French académie, from New Latin academia, literally, university
1. usually capitalized : the school of philosophy founded by Plato
2.
a. : a school above the elementary level ; especially : high school
b. : a high school or college in which a special art, technical skills, or business courses are taught often to the exclusion of a liberal curriculum in languages and sciences
an academy of business
a military academy
3. : a society of learned individuals united for the advancement of the arts and sciences and literature or of some particular art or science
4. : a body of established opinion in any particular field widely accepted as authoritative and often tending to stifle initiative
the modern movement has been stiffening prematurely into an academy — Lewis Mumford