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

Instead of nearby cells taking charge, the strongest instructions for the stem cells came from intestinal cells -- the next most common type found in the dataset.

Read more on Science Daily

These days, Martinez said, loaders get computer-generated instructions of where to place packages and drivers use a hand-held device to find out where each package is.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But the Afghan side "reversed its position repeatedly after instructions from Kabul", said the source, who was not authorised to discuss the talks publicly.

Read more on Barron's

Many of these states have other types of legal protections for those claiming self-defense, including jury instructions or judicial decisions.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

There were no instructions for use and no safety advice was given.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

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