instruction

[in-struhk-shuhn]

noun

1. the act or practice of instructing or teaching; education.

   Synonyms: schooling, indoctrination, exercise, drill, training

2. knowledge or information imparted.

3. an item of such knowledge or information.

4. Usually instructions. orders or directions.

   The instructions are on the back of the box.

5. the act of furnishing with authoritative directions.

   Synonyms: mandate, command

6. Computers.,  a command given to a computer to carry out a particular operation.

instruction

/ ɪnˈstrʌkʃən /

noun

1. a direction; order

2. the process or act of imparting knowledge; teaching; education

3. computing a part of a program consisting of a coded command to the computer to perform a specified function

instruction

1. A sequence of bits that tells a computer's central processing unit to perform a particular operation. An instruction can also contain data to be used in the operation.

Other Word Forms

• instructional adjective
• misinstruction noun
• noninstructional adjective
• noninstructionally adverb
• overinstruction noun
• preinstruction noun
• reinstruction noun
• self-instruction noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of instruction¹

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English instruccio(u)n, from Latin instructiōn-, stem of instructiō; equivalent to instruct + -ion

Example Sentences

Prescriptive knowledge is about the “how”—the knowledge of things like recipes, drawings, instructions, procedures, and techniques.

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Unified, accusing the district of violating Proposition 28 by misusing state arts funding and failing to provide legally required arts instruction to students.

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Unified, accusing the district of violating Proposition 28 by misusing state arts funding and denying legally required arts instruction to students.

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"Close the gates and await our instructions," they said.

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These friendly instructions are impishly delivered by Vargas, whose performance outside the play has an effect on our experience of his character inside the play.

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Related Words

• direction 
• discipline 
• guidance 
• information 
• lesson 
• preparation 
• schooling 
• teaching 
• training