Definition of "teach" in English

verb

1. (ditransitive) To pass on knowledge to.

   • Can you teach me to sew?  Can you teach sewing to me?

2. (intransitive, stative) To pass on knowledge generally, especially as one's profession; to act as a teacher.

   • She used to teach at university.

3. (ditransitive) To cause (someone) to learn or understand (something).

4. (ditransitive) To cause to know the disagreeable consequences of some action.

   • I'll teach you to make fun of me!

5. (obsolete, transitive) To show (someone) the way; to guide, conduct; to point, indicate.

   • ‘The bliss is there’, mumbled the old man and taught to Heaven.
   • c1450, Mandeville's Travelsː Blessed God of might (the) most.. teach us the right way unto that bliss that lasteth aye.
   • c1460, Cursor Mundiː Till thy sweet sun uprose, thou keptest all our lay, how we should keep our belief there taught'st thou us the way.

noun

1. (informal, usually as a term of address) teacher