əˈkædəmɪ n. (pl. -ies) 1 a a
place of
study or
training in a
special field (military academy; academy of dance). b
hist. a place of study. 2 (usu. Academy) a
society or
institution of
distinguished scholars, artists, scientists, etc. (Royal Academy). 3
Sc. a
secondary school. 4 a Plato's followers or
philosophical system. b
the garden near Athens
where Plato
taught. [F acad÷mie or L
academia f. Gk akademeia f. Akademos the
hero after whom Plato's garden
was named]