First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
educate
verb ed·u·cate \ˈe-jə-ˌkāt\
: to teach (someone) especially in a school, college, or university
: to give (someone) information about something : to train (someone) to do something
ed·u·cat·eded·u·cat·ing
Full Definition of EDUCATE
transitive verb
1
a : to provide schooling for <chose to educate their children at home> b : to train by formal instruction and supervised practice especially in a skill, trade, or profession
2
a : to develop mentally, morally, or aesthetically especially by instruction b : to provide with information : inform <educating themselves about changes in the industry>
3
: to persuade or condition to feel, believe, or act in a desired way <educate the public to support our position>
intransitive verb
: to educate a person or thing
See educate defined for English-language learners
See educate defined for kids
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Origin of EDUCATE
Middle English, to rear, from Latin educatus, past participle of educare to rear, educate, from educere to lead forth — more at educe
Synonym Discussion of EDUCATE
teach, instruct, educate, train, discipline, school mean to cause to acquire knowledge or skill. teach applies to any manner of imparting information or skill so that others may learn <taught us a lot about our planet>. instruct suggests methodical or formal teaching <instructs raw recruits in military drill>. educate implies development of the mind <more things than formal schooling serve to educate a person>. train stresses instruction and drill with a specific end in view <trained foreign pilots to operate the new aircraft>. discipline implies training in habits of order and precision <a disciplined mind>. school implies training or disciplining especially in what is hard to master <schooled the horse in five gaits>.
Rhymes with EDUCATE
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EDUCATE Defined for Kids
educate
verb ed·u·cate \ˈe-jə-ˌkāt\
ed·u·cat·eded·u·cat·ing
Definition of EDUCATE for Kids
1
: to provide schooling for <Her parents are educating her at home.>
2
: to develop the mind and morals of especially by formal instruction : teach <Teachers work hard to educate their students.>
3
: to provide with necessary information <The public should be educated about how to save energy.>
— ed·u·ca·tor \ˈe-jə-ˌkā-tər\ noun
Word Root of EDUCATE
The Latin word ducere, meaning “to lead,” and its form ductus give us the roots duc and duct. Words from the Latin ducere have something to do with leading. A duct is a tube that leads from one place or organ to another. To educate, or teach, is to lead to knowledge. To induce is to lead into a particular state.
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