teacher
teacher
Pronunciation
teacher: /ˈtiːtʃər/
tea-: /tiː/
/t/: voiceless alveolar plosive
/iː/: long close front unrounded vowel
-cher: /tʃər/
/tʃ/: voiceless post-alveolar affricate
/ər/: r-colored schwa (or 'er' sound)
Word Form Variations
Singular Noun: teacher
Plural Noun: teachers
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
teacher (noun)
A person whose profession is to instruct or educate others, especially in a school, college, or university, by imparting knowledge, skills, or values.
Synonyms: educator, instructor, tutor, lecturer, mentor, professor
Antonyms: student, pupil, learner, apprentice
An influential person, experience, or thing that imparts a significant lesson or understanding.
Synonyms: guide, lesson, master, example
Antonyms: (Context-dependent, often none direct)
Examples of Use
Books: "The best teacher is experience, but the tuition is high." (Patrick Lencioni, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, February 2002)
Newspapers: "Local teacher honored for innovative teaching methods in STEM education." (Headline in The Daily Chronicle)
Online Publications: "How a passionate teacher transformed a struggling school's literacy rates." (Article on Edutopia.org)
Entertainment Mediums (Film): "O Captain! My Captain!" a line famously delivered by students to their beloved teacher in Dead Poets Society. (Film released June 1989)
Entertainment Platforms (Television Series): "Mr. Feeny, the wise and often humorous teacher and neighbor, provided guidance to Cory Matthews throughout his formative years." (Referring to the character in Boy Meets World, which aired September 1993 - May 2000)
General Public Discourse: "My son's teacher called today to say he's making great progress in math." (Common conversational usage)
General Public Discourse: "We need to invest more in our teachers if we want to improve the quality of education." (Statement often heard in public policy debates)
10 Quotes Using Teacher
"A good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination, and instill a love of learning." (Brad Henry)
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." (William Arthur Ward)
"Education is the key to success in life, and teachers make a lasting impact in the lives of their students." (Solomon Ortiz)
"The true teacher defends his pupils against his own personal influence." (Amos Bronson Alcott)
"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." (Henry Adams)
"It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge." (Albert Einstein)
"The best teacher is experience and not through bitter experience, but through sweet experience." (Sathya Sai Baba)
"My favorite teacher was myself." (Clarence Darrow)
"The best teacher is the one who suggests rather than dogmatizes, and inspires his listener with the wish to teach himself." (Edward Bulwer-Lytton)
"A teacher takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart." (Author Unknown)
Etymology
The word "teacher" comes from the Old English word "tæcan," which meant "to show, point out, declare, or demonstrate," and also "to give instruction, train, or direct." So, the core idea behind "teach" and "teacher" is about showing someone how to do something or pointing out knowledge to them.
The suffix "-er" is common in English and means "one who does" something. So, a "teacher" is literally "one who teaches."
The first known use of the word "teacher" in English dates back to around 1290 AD, in a text called South English Legendary. At that time, its meaning was primarily "one who provides moral guidance to another." By the late 14th century, it also came to mean "one who gives instruction in a particular field or craft."
Phrases + Idioms Containing Teacher
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "teacher" or its synonyms for similar effect:
Teacher's pet: A student who is favored by the teacher.
A born teacher: Someone who naturally excels at teaching or explaining things.
History is the best teacher: Meaning that we learn valuable lessons from past events.
Experience is the best teacher: The idea that practical experience provides the most effective learning.
An old school teacher: Referring to a teacher with traditional methods or values.
The silence of the teacher speaks volumes: Implying that a teacher's non-verbal cues or quiet disapproval can be very powerful.
To play teacher: To take on the role of an instructor, often in an informal setting.
Like a teacher to a class: Describing someone explaining something thoroughly and patiently to a group.
The teacher in the room: Indicating the person who is most knowledgeable or authoritative in a discussion.
To learn from the master/instructor: Similar to learning from a teacher, emphasizing acquiring skills from an expert.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of teacher from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
