tutor

[too-ter, tyoo-]

noun

1. a person employed to instruct another in some branch or branches of learning, especially a private instructor.

2. a teacher of academic rank lower than instructor in some American universities and colleges.

3. a teacher without institutional connection who assists students in preparing for examinations.

4. (especially at Oxford and Cambridge) a university officer, usually a fellow, responsible for teaching and supervising a number of undergraduates.

5. the guardian of a boy or girl below the age of puberty or majority.

verb (used with object)

1. to act as a tutor to; teach or instruct, especially privately.

2. to have the guardianship, instruction, or care of.

3. to instruct underhandedly; coach.

   to tutor a witness before he testifies.

4. Archaic.

   1. to train, school, or discipline.

   2. to admonish or reprove.

verb (used without object)

1. to act as a tutor or private instructor.

2. to study privately with a tutor.

tutor

/ ˈtjuːtə /

noun

1. a teacher, usually instructing individual pupils and often engaged privately

2. (at universities, colleges, etc) a member of staff responsible for the teaching and supervision of a certain number of students

3. Scots law the guardian of a pupil See pupil 1

verb

1. to act as a tutor to (someone); instruct

2. (tr) to act as guardian to; have care of

3. (intr) to study under a tutor

4. rare,  (tr) to admonish, discipline, or reprimand

Other Word Forms

• tutorless adjective
• tutorship noun
• mistutor verb
• subtutor noun
• subtutorship noun
• undertutor noun
• well-tutored adjective
• tutorage noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tutor¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin tūtor protector, equivalent to tū- (variant stem of tuērī to guard; tutelage ) + -tor -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of tutor¹

C14: from Latin: a watcher, from tuērī to watch over

Synonym Study

See teach.

Example Sentences

The Babushkinov children had learned English from their former tutor, who was a very odd duck indeed.

Read more on Literature

I was always tutoring and looking for new challenges.

Read more on Literature

Han, who runs a private tutoring academy, said her prayer schedule would mirror the exam timetable -- taking a break when her son takes a break and eating lunch when he eats lunch.

Read more on Barron's

Study and Learn mode, to me is the first example of when we turn ChatGPT into a tutor for you.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

For programs across California that rely on federal AmeriCorps funding to provide services such as mentoring and tutoring, it’s been a year of dramatic ups and downs.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• educator 
• instructor 
• lecturer 
• mentor 
• teacher