school
noun
skuːl 
skuːl where children learn
1 [countable] a place where children go to be educatedMy 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 buildings2 [uncountable] (used without the or a) the process of learning in a school; the time during your life when you go to a school: (British English) to start/leave school (North American English) to start/quit schoolWhere did you go to school? (British English) All my kids are still at school. (North American English) All my kids are still in school. (North American English) to teach school (= teach in a school)The transition from school to work can be difficult.3 [uncountable] (used without the or a) the time during the day when children are working in a schoolShall I meet you after school today?School begins at 9.The kids are at/in school until 3.30.after-school activitiesstudents and teachers
4 the school [singular] all the children or students and the teachers in a schoolI had to stand up in front of the whole school.for particular skill
5 [countable] (often in compounds) a place where people go to learn a particular subject or skilla drama/language/riding, etc. schoolcollege/university
6 [countable, uncountable] (North American English, informal) a college or university; the time that you spend therefamous schools like Yale and HarvardWhere did you go to school? see also graduate school7 [countable] a department of a college or university that teaches a particular subjectthe business/medical/law schoolthe School of Dentistryof writers/artists
8 [countable] a group of writers, artists, etc. whose style of work or opinions have been influenced by the same person or ideasthe Dutch school of paintingof fish
9 [countable] a large number of fish or other sea animals, swimming togethera school of dolphins compare shoalHelp
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.
Usage note: EducationLearningacquire/get/lack (an) education/training/(British English) (some) qualificationsreceive/provide somebody with training/tuitiondevelop/design/plan a curriculum/(especially British English) course/(North American English) program/syllabusgive/go to/attend a class/lesson/lecture/seminarhold/run/conduct a class/seminar/workshopsign up for/take a course/classes/lessonsSchoolgo to/start preschool/kindergarten/nursery schoolbe in the first, second, etc. (North American English) grade/(especially British English) year (at school)study/take/drop history/chemistry/German, etc.(British English) leave/finish/drop out of/(North American English) quit school(North American English) graduate high school/collegeProblems at schoolbe the victim/target of bullying(British English) play truant from/(both British English, informal) bunk off/skive off school (= not go to school when you should)(both especially North American English) skip/cut class/school(British English) cheat in/(North American English) cheat on an exam/a testget/be given a detention (for doing something)be expelled from/be suspended from schoolWork and examsdo your homework/(British English) revision/a project on somethingwork on/write/do/submit an essay/a dissertation/a thesis/an assignment/(North American English) a paperfinish/complete your dissertation/thesis/studies/courseworkhand in/(North American English) turn in your homework/essay/assignment/paperstudy/prepare/(British English) revise/(North American English) review/(North American English, informal) cram for a test/an examtake/(both British English) do/sit a test/an exam(especially British English) mark/(especially North American English) grade homework/a test(British English) do well in/(North American English) do well on/(informal, especially North American English) ace a test/an exampass/fail/(informal, especially North American English) flunk a test/an exam/a class/a course/a subjectUniversityapply to/get into/go to/start college/(British English) universityleave/graduate from law school/college/(British English) university (with a degree in computer science)study for/take/(British English) do/complete a law degree/a degree in physics(both North American English) major/minor in biology/philosophyearn/receive/be awarded/get/have/hold a master's degree/a bachelor's degree/a PhD in economicsUsage note: at / in schoolIn British English somebody who is attending school is at school: I was at school with her sister. In North American English in school is used: I have a ten-year-old in school. In school in North American English can also mean ‘attending a university’.Usage note: schoolWhen 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. note at college, hospital