Learn

[lurn] /lɜrn/

verb (used with object), learned
[lurnd] /lɜrnd/ (Show IPA) or learnt, learning.
1.
to acquire knowledge of or skill in by study, instruction, or experience:
to learn French; to learn to ski.
2.
to become informed of or acquainted with; ascertain:
to learn the truth.
3.
to memorize:
He learned the poem so he could recite it at the dinner.
4.
to gain (a habit, mannerism, etc.) by experience, exposure to example, or the like; acquire:
She learned patience from her father.
5.
(of a device or machine, especially a computer) to perform an analogue of human learning with artificial intelligence.
6.
Nonstandard. to instruct in; teach.
verb (used without object), learned
[lurnd] /lɜrnd/ (Show IPA) or learnt, learning.
7.
to acquire knowledge or skill:
to learn rapidly.
8.
to become informed (usually followed by of):
to learn of an accident.
/lɜːn/
verb learns, learning, learned (lɜːnd), learnt
1.
(when transitive, may take a clause as object) to gain knowledge of (something) or acquire skill in (some art or practice)
2.
(transitive) to commit to memory
3.
(transitive) to gain by experience, example, etc
4.
(intransitive; often foll by of or about) to become informed; know
5.
(not standard) to teach
v.

Old English leornian “to get knowledge, be cultivated, study, read, think about,” from Proto-Germanic *liznojan (cf. Old Frisian lernia, Middle Dutch leeren, Dutch leren, Old High German lernen, German lernen “to learn,” Gothic lais “I know”), with a base sense of “to follow or find the track,” from PIE *leis- “track.” Related to German Gleis “track,” and to Old English læst “sole of the foot” (see last (n.)).

The transitive sense (He learned me how to read), now vulgar, was acceptable from c.1200 until early 19c., from Old English læran “to teach” (cf. Dutch leren, German lehren “to teach,” literally “to make known;” see lore), and is preserved in past participle adjective learned “having knowledge gained by study.” Related: Learning.