literate

  • 1literate — UK US /ˈlɪtərət/ adjective ► able to read and write: »a literate workforce »barely/highly literate »The top priority must be ensuring young people are literate, numerate, and ready for work. ► having knowledge of a particular subject, or a… …

    Financial and business terms

  • 2literate — ► ADJECTIVE 1) able to read and write. 2) knowledgeable in a particular field: computer literate. ► NOUN ▪ a literate person. DERIVATIVES literately adverb …

    English terms dictionary

  • 3literate — [lit′ər it] adj. [ME litterate < L litteratus < littera, LETTER1] 1. able to read and write 2. well educated; having or showing extensive knowledge, learning, or culture 3. Now Rare versed in literature 4. knowledgeable or capable… …

    English World dictionary

  • 4Literate — Lit er*ate (l[i^]t [ e]r*[asl]t), a. [L. litteratus, literatus. See {Letter}.] Instructed in learning, science, or literature; learned; lettered. [1913 Webster] The literate now chose their emperor, as the military chose theirs. Landor. [1913… …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 5Literate — Lit er*ate, n. 1. One educated, but not having taken a university degree; especially, such a person who is prepared to take holy orders. [Eng.] [1913 Webster] 2. A literary man. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 6literate — I adjective accomplished, apprised, aware, conversant, cultivated, cultured, disciplined, educated, enlightened, enriched, erudite, having formal education, informed, intellectual, knowing, knowledgeable, learned, lettered, literary, polished,… …

    Law dictionary

  • 7literate — (adj.) educated, instructed, early 15c., from L. literatus/litteratus educated, learned, lit. one who knows the letters, formed in imitation of Gk. grammatikos from L. littera/litera letter (see LETTER (Cf. letter) (n.1)) …

    Etymology dictionary

  • 8literate — [adj] able to read and write cultivated, cultured, educated, instructed, knowledgeable, learned, lettered, scholarly, schooled; concept 402 …

    New thesaurus

  • 9literate — [[t]lɪ̱tərət[/t]] 1) ADJ Someone who is literate is able to read and write. Over one quarter of the adult population are not fully literate. Ant: illiterate 2) ADJ GRADED (approval) If you describe someone as literate, you mean that they are… …

    English dictionary

  • 10literate — I. adjective Etymology: Middle English literat, from Latin litteratus marked with letters, literate, from litterae letters, literature, from plural of littera Date: 15th century 1. a. educated, cultured b. able to read and write 2. a. versed in… …

    New Collegiate Dictionary