Adjacent Words

Instruct definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INSTRUCT', v.t. [L. instruo, instructum; in and struo, to set or to put on, to furnish. The L. struo is contracted from struco or strugo. See Destroy.]
1. To teach; to inform the mind; to educate; to impart knowledge to one who was destitute of it. The first duty of parents is to instruct their children in the principles of religion and morality.
2. To direct; to enjoin; to persuade or admonish.
She being before instructed by her mother, said, give me here the head of John the Baptist in a charger. Matthew 14.
3. To direct or command; to furnish with orders. The president instructed his envoy to insist on the restitution of the property.
4. To inform; to advise or give notice to. On this question the court is not instructed.
5. To model; to form; to prepare. [Not used.]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: impart skills or knowledge to; "I taught them French"; "He instructed me in building a boat" [syn: teach, learn, instruct]
2: give instructions or directions for some task; "She instructed the students to work on their pronunciation"
3: make aware of; "Have the students been apprised of the tuition hike?" [syn: instruct, apprise, apprize]

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb Etymology: Middle English, from Latin instructus, past participle of instruere, from in- + struere to build — more at structure Date: 15th century 1. to give knowledge to ; teach, train 2. to provide with authoritative information or advice <the judge instructed the jury> 3. to give an order or command to ; direct Synonyms: see teach, command

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. 1 (often foll. by in) teach (a person) a subject etc. (instructed her in French). 2 (usu. foll. by to + infin.) direct; command (instructed him to fill in the hole). 3 (often foll. by of, or that etc. + clause) inform (a person) of a fact etc. 4 Brit. a (of a client or solicitor) give information to (a solicitor or counsel). b authorize (a solicitor or counsel) to act for one. Etymology: ME f. L instruere instruct- build, teach (as IN-(2), struere pile up)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Instruct In*struct", a. [L. instructus, p. p. of instruere to furnish, provide, construct, instruct; pref. in- in, on + struere. See Structure.] 1. Arranged; furnished; provided. [Obs.] ``He had neither ship instruct with oars, nor men.'' --Chapman. 2. Instructed; taught; enlightened. [Obs.] --Milton.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Instruct In*struct", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Instructed; p. pr. & vb. n. Instructing.] 1. To put in order; to form; to prepare. [Obs.] They speak to the merits of a cause, after the proctor has prepared and instructed the same for a hearing. --Ayliffe. 2. To form by communication of knowledge; to inform the mind of; to impart knowledge or information to; to enlighten; to teach; to discipline. Schoolmasters will I keep within my house, Fit to instruct her youth. --Shak. 3. To furnish with directions; to advise; to direct; to command; as, the judge instructs the jury. She, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. --Matt. xiv. 8. Take her in; instruct her what she has to do. --Shak. Syn: To teach; educate; inform; train; discipline; indoctrinate; direct; enjoin.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(instructs, instructing, instructed) 1. If you instruct someone to do something, you formally tell them to do it. (FORMAL) The family has instructed solicitors to sue Thomson for compensation... 'Go and have a word with her, Ken,' Webb instructed... I want you to instruct them that they've got three months to get the details sorted out. VERB: V n to-inf, V with quote, V n that, also V n with quote 2. Someone who instructs people in a subject or skill teaches it to them. He instructed family members in nursing techniques. VERB: V n in/on n, also V

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Teach, inform, enlighten, indoctrinate, exercise, train, school, educate. 2. Direct, command, order, enjoin, prescribe to.

Moby Thesaurus

acquaint, advertise, advertise of, advise, advocate, apprise, assign, bid, brief, bring word, broaden the mind, call on, call the signals, call upon, catechize, charge, civilize, coach, command, commission, communicate, confer, consult with, counsel, declare, decree, define, demonstrate, dictate, direct, discipline, disclose, drill, edify, educate, engineer, enjoin, enlighten, familiarize, give an order, give instruction, give lessons in, give notice, give the facts, give the word, give word, ground, guide, illumine, importune, inculcate, indoctrinate, inform, issue a command, issue a writ, kibitz, lead, leave word, let know, mandate, meddle, mention to, notify, open the eyes, ordain, order, order about, pilot, prepare, prescribe, proclaim, promulgate, pronounce, propose, recommend, reeducate, report, require, rule, say the word, school, send word, serve notice, set right, sharpen the wits, show, show how, speak, steer, submit, suggest, teach, teach a lesson, teach the rudiments, tell, train, tutor, verse, warn