preschool
|pre-school|
🇺🇸
/ˈpriˌskul/
🇬🇧
/ˈpriːˌskuːl/
early childhood education
Etymology
'preschool' originates from the prefix 'pre-' meaning 'before' and the word 'school', which comes from the Old English 'scol', meaning 'place of instruction'.
'preschool' evolved from the combination of 'pre-' and 'school' to describe educational institutions for young children before primary school.
Initially, it referred to any form of education before formal schooling, and it has retained this meaning in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an educational establishment offering early childhood education to children before they begin compulsory education at primary school.
Many parents enroll their children in preschool to prepare them for kindergarten.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
relating to the time before a child is old enough to go to kindergarten or elementary school.
She works as a preschool teacher.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/02/18 16:27