I. ˈskül noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English scole, from Old English scōl, from Latin schola leisure devoted to learning, lecture, school, from Greek scholē leisure, learned discussion, lecture, school; akin to Greek echein, schein to have, hold — more at scheme
1.
a.
(1) : an organized body of scholars and teachers associated for the pursuit and dissemination of knowledge (as in a particular advanced field) and constituting a college especially of a medieval university
(2) schools plural : the academic or learned world : universities — usually used with the definite article
the view accepted by the schools
(3) usually capitalized , obsolete : schoolmen — usually used in plural
b.
(1) : the body of pupils or students attending a school
the new teacher is liked by the whole school
(2) : the members of a school including both faculty and students
the school had a holiday
the school participated in a fire drill
c.
(1) : the disciples or followers of a teacher
(2) : persons who hold a common doctrine or accept the same teachings or follow the same intellectual methods : a sect or denomination (as in philosophy, theology, medicine, or politics)
belonged to the radical school of economists
(3) : people forming a distinguishable group or class and sharing common principles, canons, precepts, or a common body of opinion or practice
a gentleman of the old school
other schools of opinion
(4) : a group (as of painters, sculptors, or musicians) under a common local or personal influence producing a general similarity in their work
the Wagnerian school
also : the artists or art of a country or region
paintings of the Flemish school
d. Britain : a body of gamblers or thieves : gang
2.
a. : an organized source of education or training: as
(1) : an institution for the teaching of children : an elementary or secondary school
(2) : an institution for specialized higher education usually within a university
the school of medicine at the state university
(3) : college , university
the excellent east coast schools
(4) : an establishment for teaching a particular skill or group of skills
a school of design
a fencing school
a beauticians' school
b. : a place where instruction is given:
(1) : a place where lectures are held ; especially : a place for lectures in logic, metaphysics, and theology in the medieval period
(2) : a building or hall where examinations for degrees and honors are held at an English university
(3) : a building or group of buildings in which a school is conducted
the new school is very elaborate
the most beautiful school in the area
(4) : an area (as an enclosure or covered ring) where horses are schooled : a riding school
c. : something that is a source of instruction
the school of experience
3.
a. : the process of being instructed or educated in institutions for teaching the young
found school very difficult
b. : attendance at a school
he quit school
during her last year of school
4. : a session of a school
there will be no school on Friday
late for school
kept in after school
5. : an administrative unit in a private school comprising several consecutive grades or forms
a lower school
boys in the upper school
6.
a. : a final examination for the bachelor of arts degree (as at Oxford University)
b. : an honors course (as at Oxford University)
7.
a. : a book of instruction (as in a particular system of execution in music)
b. : a system of instruction or execution
8. : the regulations governing military drill of individuals or of a unit of a given size or kind ; also : the exercises carried out in accordance with such regulations
the school of the soldier
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
transitive verb
1. : to educate or provide with education in an institution of learning : send to school
the boy was schooled at great cost to his family
2. : to give teaching or training to:
a. : to teach or drill in a specific knowledge, attitude, or skill
well schooled in languages
our parents have schooled us in the principle of the rights of the individual
b. : to instruct, stabilize, or inure by practice, long or repeated experience, or subjection to systematic discipline — usually used with in
school oneself in patience
schooling a horse in the five gaits
school an athlete in timing
c. : to make tractable (as by teaching, admonition, or chastisement)
d. : to educate, cultivate, or advance mentally or culturally by formal instruction in or as if in a school
schooled his mind with travel and study
e.
(1) archaic : to reprove for error or fault : set right : chide , admonish ; also : to dictate to
(2) obsolete : to punish by way of giving a lesson
intransitive verb
1. : to go to school
2. : to ride or course cross-country
schooling over meadows and hills
Synonyms: see teach
III. adjective
1. : of or relating to a school
school traditions
: connected with or employed in connection with a school
a school library
the school superintendent
2.
a. : of the kind taught in school
school studies
sometimes : superficially and incompletely mastered
amateurish school French
b. : of the kind taught or practiced in a school of horsemanship : trained in a school of horsemanship : schooled
a school gait
3.
a. : of or relating to the Schoolmen
school theology
: of the kind employed by the Schoolmen
school arguments
b. : being or involving mere abstractions or quibbling : having no practical application or value
school language
a school name
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English scole, from Middle Dutch schole group especially of fish or animals of one kind, multitude; akin to Old English scolu multitude, troop, sciell shell — more at shell
1. : a large number of one kind of fish or other aquatic animals swimming or feeding together
a school of dolphins
2. : a large group of flock (as of birds or people)
too busy receiving the congratulations of a school of admirals for us to buttonhole her — New Yorker
V. intransitive verb
of fishes : to swim and feed together in large numbers
bluefish are schooling