ENGLISH
REFERENCE

preschool

n. C / U
A2 Elementary US //ˈpɹiˌskuɫ// UK //pɹˈiːskuːl// preschool

n. a school for children who are too young for primary school. It is a place where very young kids play and learn social skills before they start their formal education.

n. an educational establishment or learning space offering early childhood education to children before they begin compulsory primary schooling. Often used to describe programs for children aged three to five.


SIMPLE

My daughter loves her teachers at preschool.

CONTEXTUAL

Many parents choose a preschool that focuses on play-based learning to help their children develop social skills.

COMPLEX

Research suggests that high-quality preschool programs can significantly improve long-term academic outcomes by establishing foundational cognitive and emotional regulation skills during a child's most formative years.

Origin

From pre- + school.

Usage

Can be used as a countable noun for the building or as an uncountable noun for the period of education.

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