instruct

[in-struhkt] /ɪnˈstrʌkt/
verb (used with object)
1.
to furnish with knowledge, especially by a systematic method; teach; train; educate.
2.
to furnish with orders or directions; direct; order; command:
The doctor instructed me to diet.
3.
to furnish with information; inform; apprise.
4.
Law. (of a judge) to guide (a jury) by outlining the legal principles involved in the case under consideration.
Origin
1375-1425; late Middle English < Latin instructus past participle of instruere to equip, train, set in order, equivalent to in- in-2 + struc- (variant stem of struere to put together) + -tus past participle suffix
Related forms
instructedly, adverb
instructedness, noun
instructible, adjective
misinstruct, verb (used with object)
overinstruct, verb (used with object)
preinstruct, verb (used with object)
quasi-instructed, adjective
reinstruct, verb (used with object)
self-instructed, adjective
self-instructing, adjective
uninstructible, adjective
uninstructing, adjective
well-instructed, adjective
Synonyms
1. tutor, coach; drill, discipline; indoctrinate; school. 2. prescribe. 3. enlighten.
Synonym Study
1. See teach.
Examples from the web for instruct
  • Imagine if you could instruct those services to interact with each other automatically under certain conditions.
  • Although emergency crews and police prefer and instruct that civilians stay away.
  • Second, the main job of any particular gene is to instruct cells to make its corresponding protein.
  • instruct them to reach consensus on the establishment of three groups of countries.
  • Please instruct me who to contact regarding this possible employment.
  • Then the treating doctor must instruct a laboratory to use the type of culture media on which the organisms grow.
  • Unfortunately for those of us who instruct in philosophy, there are other ways to become proficient in critical thinking.
  • Unless you instruct us otherwise, your cells will be destroyed at the conclusion of the project.
  • instruct students to read, review, and count pizzeria listings.
  • instruct students to write a descriptive paragraph about their kimono.
British Dictionary definitions for instruct

instruct

/ɪnˈstrʌkt/
verb (transitive)
1.
to direct to do something; order
2.
to teach (someone) how to do (something)
3.
to furnish with information; apprise
4.
(law, mainly Brit)
  1. (esp of a client to his solicitor or a solicitor to a barrister) to give relevant facts or information to
  2. to authorize (a barrister or solicitor) to conduct a case on a person's behalf: to instruct counsel
Derived Forms
instructible, adjective
Word Origin
C15: from Latin instruere to construct, set in order, equip, teach, from struere to build
Word Origin and History for instruct
v.

early 15c., from Latin instructus, past participle of instruere "arrange, inform, teach," literally "to build, erect," from in- "on" (see in- (2)) + struere "to pile, build" (see structure (n.)). Related: Instructed; instructing.