teaching
TEET-shihng
Teaching (noun) means a belief or principle put forward by a religious, philosophical, or other respected authority. Example: “The monk's teachings emphasised compassion and patience.”
noun
1
A belief or principle put forward by a religious, philosophical, or other respected authority.
"The monk's teachings emphasised compassion and patience."
"Many follow the teachings of Confucius."
"Many people still follow the teachings of their grandparents' faith."
"The philosopher's teaching was that happiness comes from within."
2
The profession or activity of educating others.
"After years in finance, she switched careers to go into teaching."
"I have found a teaching job."
"Teaching has seen continual changes over the past decades."
"Teaching is hard work, but she loves seeing her pupils improve."
"He retired from teaching and now volunteers at the library."
How to use teaching
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the job of being a teacher, or a specific lesson or belief that someone respected has passed on.
Common pairings
go into teaching
religious teachings
a teaching career
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Word forms
- Plural
- teachings
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The monk's _____ emphasised compassion and patience.
Etymology
From Old English tæcung, "instruction," built from teach plus "-ing."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for teaching
See all rhymes for teaching →Frequently asked questions
What does “teaching” mean?
The word “teaching” means a belief or principle put forward by a religious, philosophical, or other respected authority. In plain terms, either the job of being a teacher, or a specific lesson or belief that someone respected has passed on.
How do you pronounce “teaching”?
“Teaching” is pronounced TEET-shihng (/ˈtiːt͡ʃɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “teaching” in a sentence?
Here is “teaching” used in a sentence: “The monk's teachings emphasised compassion and patience.”
What part of speech is “teaching”?
“Teaching” is a noun.
Where does the word “teaching” come from?
The word “teaching” comes from Old English. From Old English tæcung, "instruction," built from teach plus "-ing.".
Is “teaching” a common word?
“Teaching” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “teaching” have?
“Teaching” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a belief or principle put forward by a religious, philosophical, or other respected authority.
What is the difference between a teaching and a doctrine?
The two overlap closely. A teaching is any belief or principle put forward by a respected authority, while a doctrine is a teaching that has been formally adopted and codified as official. All doctrines are teachings, but a teaching becomes a doctrine only once a body officially endorses it.
What is an example of a teaching?
'Love your neighbour' is a well-known religious teaching, and 'know thyself' a famous philosophical one. The teachings of figures such as the Buddha, Confucius, or the great philosophers are the principles and lessons they set out for others to understand and live by.
Why is the word usually seen as 'teachings'?
In this sense the plural 'teachings' is common because it names the whole body of principles linked to a person or tradition — 'the teachings of Aristotle' or 'the teachings of the church.' It gathers the collected beliefs, lessons, and guidance handed down by that authority into one term.
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