school

I. noun Etymology: Middle English scole, from Old English scōl, from Latin schola, from Greek scholē leisure, discussion, lecture, school; perhaps akin to Greek echein to hold — more at scheme Date: before 12th century 1. an organization that provides instruction: as a. an institution for the teaching of children b. college, university c. (1) a group of scholars and teachers pursuing knowledge together that with similar groups constituted a medieval university (2) one of the four faculties of a medieval university (3) an institution for specialized higher education often associated with a university <

the school of engineering

> d. an establishment offering specialized instruction <

a secretarial school

> <

driving schools

> 2. a. (1) the process of teaching or learning especially at a school (2) attendance at a school (3) a session of a school b. a school building c. the students attending a school; also its teachers and students 3. a source of knowledge <

experience was his school

> 4. a. a group of persons who hold a common doctrine or follow the same teacher (as in philosophy, theology, or medicine) <

the Aristotelian school

>; also the doctrine or practice of such a group b. a group of artists under a common influence c. a group of persons of similar opinions or behavior; also the shared opinions or behavior of such a group <

other schools of thought

> 5. the regulations governing military drill of individuals or units; also the exercises carried out <

the school of the soldier

> II. transitive verb Date: 15th century 1. a. to teach or drill in a specific knowledge or skill <

well schooled in languages

> b. to discipline or habituate to something <

school oneself in patience

> 2. to educate in an institution of learning Synonyms: see teach III. noun Etymology: Middle English scole, from Middle Dutch schole; akin to Old English scolu multitude and probably to Old English scylian to separate — more at skill Date: 15th century a large number of fish or aquatic animals of one kind swimming together IV. intransitive verb Date: 1597 to swim or feed in a school <

bluefish are schooling

>