noun

school

skool

noun

An institution where people, especially children, go to be taught.

"She walks to school every morning with her brother."

"The new school opened its doors to 500 students this year."

A department or division of a university dedicated to one subject area.

"He is studying law at the school of law."

"The medical school accepts only a small number of applicants each year."

A group of people who share the same ideas, style, or approach.

"She belongs to the school of thought that believes practice matters more than talent."

"The painting shows the influence of the Dutch school."

A large group of fish or sea creatures such as dolphins swimming together.

"A school of tuna passed beneath the boat."

verb

To teach or train someone, often strictly.

"He was schooled at home until the age of ten."

"She schooled her opponent in the final set of the match."

How to Use School

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA place where people go to learn, or by extension, a group sharing the same ideas or a group of fish swimming together.

Common mistake

In American English "school" often means any level from kindergarten through university; in British English it usually means primary or secondary education, with "university" used separately.

Common pairings

go to school school of thought a school of fish old school

Word Forms

schooled past tense, schooled past tense, schools plural, schools plural, schools singular, schools singular

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She walks to _____ every morning with her brother.

Etymology

From Old English scōl, borrowed from Latin schola, itself from Greek skholē — which originally meant "leisure" or "spare time," since study was once seen as something done in one's free time.

Rhymes for school

cool wool tool pool fool kool spool stool drool uncool carpool cesspool

See all rhymes for school →