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

She also said tutors would ask Scottish students to repeat themselves or to speak more clearly.

From BBC

"I tell stories, each object has a meaning," Mr Devonport, who works with offenders and tutors fine art, said.

From BBC

This happened just weeks after four US university tutors were stabbed in a park in Jilin.

From BBC

Superintendent Darin Brawley, in a statement, attributed the improved test scores to its tutoring efforts, regular evaluation of performance metrics and the professional development it provided for its teachers.

From Los Angeles Times

He is a former Irvine school board member and college educator and founded a tutoring academy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• educator
• instructor
• lecturer
• mentor
• teacher