ENGLISH
REFERENCE

educate

v.
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈɛdʒəˌkeɪt// UK //ˈɛdʒuːkˌeɪt// ed·u·cate Archaic General-service

v. to teach someone at a school or college, or to help them learn about a specific subject. It is about giving people the knowledge and skills they need for life.

v. to provide schooling or systematic instruction, typically at an institution of higher learning; to develop the faculties and powers of a person by teaching.


SIMPLE

The school aims to educate children in a safe environment.

CONTEXTUAL

Public health campaigns work to educate the community about the benefits of a balanced diet and regular exercise.

COMPLEX

While the primary goal is to educate students in core subjects, the curriculum also emphasizes critical thinking and social responsibility to prepare them for global citizenship.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From Middle English educaten, from educat(e) (“educated”, also used as the past participle of educaten) + -en (verb-forming suffix), from Latin ēducātus, the perfect passive participle of ēducō (“(of a child, physically or mentally) to bring up, train, nourish; (of a person in learning or art) to rear, educate, train; (plants or animals) to nourish, support, or produce”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), further from an intensive/frequentative formed on ēducō (“lead out, draw out; to raise up, erect”) + -ō.

Etymology 2

From Middle English educat(e) (“educated”, also used as the past participle of educaten), borrowed from Latin ēducātus, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and Etymology 1 for more.

Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object, usually the person or group being taught.

Pitfall

He was educated about the historyHe was educated in historyWhen referring to a field of study, 'educate' usually takes the preposition 'in' rather than 'about'.

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