school

Universal Words noun, verb noun where children learn 1 [C] a place where children go to be educated: My brother and I went to the same school. * (formal) Which school do they attend? * I'm going to the school today to talk to Kim's teacher. * We need more money for roads, hospitals and schools. * school buildings / rules / buses 2 [U] (used without the or a) the process of learning in a school; the time during your life when you go to a school: (BrE) to start / leave school * (AmE) to start / quit school * Where did you go to school? * (BrE) All my kids are still at school. * (AmE) All my kids are still in school. * (AmE) to teach school (= teach in a school) * The transition from school to work can be difficult. 3 [U] (used without the or a) the time during the day when children are working in a school: Shall I meet you after school today? * School begins at 9. * The kids are at / in school until 3.30. * after-school activities / clubs students and teachers 4 (the school) [sing.] all the children or students and the teachers in a school: I had to stand up in front of the whole school. for particular skill 5 [C] (often in compounds) a place where people go to learn a particular subject or skill: a drama / language / riding school * the London Business School college / university 6 [C,U] (AmE, informal) a college or university; the time that you spend there: famous schools like Yale and Harvard * I've known her since law school. * Where did you go to school? seealsoGRADUATESCHOOL 7 [C] a department of a college or university that teaches a particular subject: the university medical / law school * the School of Dentistry / Languages of writers / artists 8 [C] a group of writers, artists, etc. whose style of work or opinions have been influenced by the same person or ideas: the Dutch school of painting of fish 9 [C] a large number of fish or other sea animals, swimming together: a school of dolphins / sharks / whales compareSHOAL HELPNOTE There are many compounds ending in school. You will find them at their place in the alphabet. IDIOMS school(s) of thought a way of thinking that a number of people share: There are two schools of thought about how this illness should be treated. * He belongs to the school of thought that says that competition can be very stimulating for children. moreatOLD verb yourself / animal 1 ~ sb / yourself (in sth) (formal) to train sb/yourself/an animal to do sth: [VN] to school a horse * She had schooled herself in patience. * [VNtoinf] I have schooled myself to remain calm under pressure. child 2 [VN] (formal) to educate a child: She should be schooled with her peers. ______________________________ GRAMMARPOINT school When a school is being referred to as an institution, you do not need to use the: When do the children finish school? When you are talking about a particular building, the is used: I'll meet you outside the school. Prison, jail, court, and church work in the same way: Her husband spent three years in prison. -<noteatCOLLEGE, HOSPITAL ______________________________ ______________________________ BRITISH/AMERICAN at / in school In BrE someone who is attending school is at school: I was at school with her sister. In AmE in school is used: I have a ten-year-old in school. In school in AmE can also mean 'attending a university'. ______________________________