school

SKOOL/skuːl/

Pluralschools

Verbschools, schooling, schooled

15 meanings of school

Practice

1
where kids learnnouncountable or uncountable
A place where children go to learn. In the US and Canada, it can also mean a college or university.
My little brother started school this year.
When they leave school, many pupils go on to university.
UsageSay go to school and at school for lessons. Use the school for a particular school or its building.
Note
2
daily lessonsnouncountable or uncountable
The time when classes are happening and students are learning.
Like the time a store is open for business.
School starts at eight every morning.
They play outside after school.
UsageSay after school and school starts at eight.
Similarclass, classes, lessons
3
nouncountable or uncountable
A place that teaches one special skill, like driving or cooking.
Like a place that teaches only one skill, such as baking.
She signed up for a cooking school last summer.
He learned to drive at a local driving school.
Similaracademy, institute, college, bootcamp
4
university departmentnouncountable or uncountable
A part of a university that teaches one subject, like law or medicine.
She studies at the school of medicine.
The university's school of art is well known.
Similardepartment, faculty, institute, college
5
way of thinkingnouncountable or uncountable
A group of thinkers or artists who share the same ideas or the same style.
Like a team where everyone follows the same game plan.
That painter belongs to a school that loves bright colors and bold shapes.
That idea comes from a different school of thought.
UsageSay a school of thought for a shared way of thinking.
Similarmovement, tradition, camp
Note
6
verbtransitive
To teach or train someone in a skill or subject.
Like a coach showing a beginner how to play.
Her parents schooled her at home for years.
They school their children in good manners.
UsageSay someone was schooled in music.
Similartrain, teach, educate, coach, instruct

Less common meanings

7
fish groupnouncollectivecountable
A large group of fish or sea animals swimming together.
Like a big flock of birds, but made of fish.
A school of fish swam past the divers.
We saw a school of dolphins near the boat.
UsageSay a school of fish.
Similarshoal
Note
8
pupils and staffnouncountable
All the students and teachers at a place of learning, thought of as one group.
The whole school came out to cheer for the team.
The principal spoke to the school about the new rules.
UsageSay the whole school for all the students and teachers.
9
verbcolloquialtransitive
To beat someone badly in a game or contest.
Like winning a game so easily the other team looks lost.
We schooled the other team in the final.
They school anyone who challenges them.
UsageSay someone got schooled when they lost badly.
Similartrounce, thrash, crush, outclass, beat
Note
10
swim togetherverbintransitive
To swim together in a large group, as fish do.
Like birds flying together in one big flock.
Sardines school to protect themselves from predators.
The fish were schooling near the surface at dusk.
Similarshoal, congregate, gather, swarm, group
Oppositescatter, disperse
11
nouncountable
A very large number of people or things.
Similarcrowd, throng, multitude, horde, host
12
nouncountable or uncountable
The accepted rules and opinions that an age or group treats as correct.
Like the set of rules everyone in one time agreed was proper.
Our family doctor is of the old school and still makes house calls.
My grandfather was a gentleman of the old school.
UsageOf the old school means keeping older ways and standards.
Similarcode, canon, convention
Note
13
compose (face)verbtransitive
To control your face, voice or feelings so that others cannot see what you feel.
Like putting on a calm mask so no one sees your feelings.
She schooled her face to hide her surprise.
He tried to school his voice into calmness.
UsageSay he schooled his face into a smile.
Similarcompose, control, discipline, arrange
14
nounUK
At Eton College, a single lesson or teaching session.
15
noun
A hall in some English universities where students take exams for their degrees.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of school apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–6, 8–9, 12–13

It comes from Old English scōl, meaning a place of education. That came from Late Latin schola and from Ancient Greek skholḗ, which meant 'spare time' or 'leisure'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

The education sense derives from Old English scōl, meaning a place of education. en.wiktionary.org
The Old English word ultimately derives from Late Latin schola. en.wiktionary.org
The Latin word derives from Ancient Greek skholḗ, meaning spare time or leisure. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 7, 10–11

This sense comes from Middle Dutch scole, meaning a crowd or troop of people or a swarm of animals. It goes back to an old Germanic word for 'crowd'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

This sense of school derives from Middle Dutch scole, meaning a crowd or troop of people or a swarm of animals. en.wiktionary.org
The Middle Dutch word derives from an older Germanic word meaning a crowd. en.wiktionary.org