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

Derived Forms

• ˈtutorage, noun

Other Words From

• tutor·less adjective
• tutor·ship noun
• mis·tutor verb
• sub·tutor noun
• sub·tutor·ship noun
• under·tutor noun
• well-tutored adjective

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

Class tutor Kim Mead, from People First, told BBC News NI that making maths fun was important.

From BBC

Under current regulations the former teacher does not need a DBS check to work as a tutor.

From BBC

“I had a tutor at the age of 12. He tried to touch my breasts,” wrote one anonymous contributor.

From BBC

A mother told us that she had dismissed her daughter’s English tutor for swearing and using inappropriate language.

From BBC

She told the tutor’s agency but it took no action.

From BBC

Related Words

• educator
• instructor
• lecturer
• mentor
• teacher