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knowledge definition

knowl·edge (näl′ij)

noun

  1. the act, fact, or state of knowing; specif.,
    1. acquaintance or familiarity (with a fact, place, etc.)
    2. awareness
    3. understanding
  2. acquaintance with facts; range of information, awareness, or understanding
  3. all that has been perceived or grasped by the mind; learning; enlightenment
  4. the body of facts, principles, etc. acquired through human experience and thought
  5. Archaic carnal knowledge

Etymology: ME knoweleche, acknowledgment, confession < Late OE cnawlæc < cnawan (see know) + -læc < lācan, to play, give, move about

knowledge Idioms

to (the best of) one's knowledge

as far as one knows; within the range of one's information

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms knowledge idiom

law knowledge definition - legal

knowledge Synonyms

knowledge

n.

  1. That which is known

    information, learning, lore, erudition, wisdom, scholarship, facts, data, instruction, book-learning, cognizance, understanding, comprehension, enlightenment, expertise, intelligence, light, doctrine, dogma, theory, science, principles, data base, philosophy, awareness, insight, proficiency, attainments, accomplishments, education, culture, substance, observation, experience, store of learning, know-how*, the scoop*, the goods*, the know*; see also culture 3, data, experience 3.

    Antonyms emptiness, ignorance*, pretension. *

  2. Awareness

    acquaintance, familiarity, conversance, consciousness; see awareness, familiarity 2.

knowledge applies to any body of facts gathered by study, observation, etc., and to the ideas inferred from these facts, and connotes an understanding of what is known man's knowledge of the universe; information applies to data that are gathered in any way, as by reading, observation, hearsay, etc. and does not necessarily connote validity inaccurate information; learning is knowledge acquired by study, especially in languages, literature, philosophy, etc.; erudition implies profound or abstruse learning beyond the comprehension of most people; wisdom implies superior judgment and understanding based on broad knowledge and experience


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

knowledge Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • acquire: Time spent in the target speech community remains learners ' primary opportunity of acquiring pragmatic knowledge.

Adjective modifier

  • prior: You do NOT need any prior knowledge about green issues or local politics.

Modifies a noun

  • transfer: Knowledge Transfer Partnerships ( KTP ) Who can become a KTP Associate?

Noun used with modifier

  • specialist: This should not require specialist knowledge or technical skills.
knowledge usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

knowledge quotes

All men naturally desire knowledge.

-Aristotle

Others abide our question. Thou art free. We ask and ask:Thou smilest and art still, Out-topping knowledge.

-Arnold, Matthew

Of these two literatures [French and German], as of the intellect of Europe in general, the main effort, for now many years, has beena critical effort; the endeavours, in all branches of knowledgeötheology, philosophy, history, art, scienceötoseethe object as initself it really is.

-Arnold, Matthew

knowledge quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"knowledge." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/knowledge>

APA Style

knowledge. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/knowledge

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