academy

plural academies

1. An institution for the study of higher learning; a college or a university; typically a private school.First known use First attested in the mid 16th century.

   The artists of London had long maintained a private academy for improvement in the art of drawing from living figures

   1760–5, Tobias Smollett, The history of England from the revolution in 1688, to the death of George II, published 1805, page 449

   1 more example

   In this year 1633, I became acquainted with Nicholas Fiske, licentiate in physic, who was born in Suffolk, near Framingham* Castle, of very good parentage, who educated him at country schools, until he was fit for the university; but he went not to the academy, studying at home both astrology and physic, which he afterwards practised in Colchester; and there was well acquainted with Dr Gilbert, who wrote "De Magnete".

   1776, David Hume, The life of David Hume

2. A school or place of training in which some special art is taught.First known use First attested in the late 16th century.

   the military academy at West Point; a riding academy; the Academy of Music; a music academy; a language academy

   1 more example

   Rudolf was the bold, bad Baron of traditional melodrama. Irene was young, as pretty as a picture, fresh from a music academy in England. He was the scion of an ancient noble family; she an orphan without money or friends.

   1956, Delano Ames, chapter 9, in Crime out of Mind

3. A society of learned people united for the advancement of the arts and sciences, and literature, or some particular art or science.First known use First attested in the early 17th century.

   the French Academy; the American Academy of Arts and Sciences; academies of literature and philology

   Synonyms: learned society

4. Academia.

   In the academy and outside of it, the privileging of technical expertise above other forms of knowledge is a political gesture, and one that has proved highly effective in neutralizing critique of established power relations.

   2016, Neoliberal Tools (and Archives): A Political History of Digital Humanities

5. A body of established opinion in a particular field, regarded as authoritative.
6. UKeducationA school directly funded by central government, independent of local control; a charter school.
7. capitalizedusuallyclassical studiesThe garden where Plato taught.First known use First attested around 1350 to 1470.

   Synonyms: academe

8. capitalizedusuallyclassical studiesPlato's philosophical system based on skepticism; Plato's followers.First known use First attested in the mid 16th century.
9. obsoleteThe knowledge disseminated in an Academy.First known use Attested from the early 17th century until the mid 18th century.

1. uncountableclassical studiesThe school for advanced education founded by Plato; the garden where Plato taught.First known use First attested around 1350 to 1470.
2. uncountableclassical studiesThe disciples of Plato.First known use First attested in the mid 16th century.
3. uncountableclassical studiesPlatonism.First known use First attested in the mid 16th century.
4. uncountableA specific society of scholars or artists.

1. A place in the United States:
   1. uncountableA northern neighbourhood of St. Louis, Missouri.
   2. uncountableAn unincorporated community in Charles Mix County, South Dakota.
   3. uncountableA settlement in the city of Little River-Academy, Bell County, Texas.