school
"School" is a very common English word with several interesting meanings. Most people think of it as just a building where children learn, but it can also be a verb and even refer to groups of animals! Here are the most useful senses.
This is the most common meaning. A school is a place where students go to learn subjects like math, science, and language — usually for children and teenagers. Think of it as the building plus everything that happens inside it: the teachers, the lessons, the rules.
everyday language · Modern, widely used
Inside a university, a 'school' is a specific department focused on one area of study. For example, a university might have a School of Medicine or a School of Law. It is a smaller, specialized part of a larger institution.
education / academic · Modern, widely used
A 'school of thought' means a group of people who share the same ideas, beliefs, or way of thinking about something. You can also talk about a 'school' of art or philosophy. Imagine a group of thinkers or artists who all follow the same approach — that is their school.
philosophy / arts / intellectual discussion · Modern, widely used · figurative
When you 'school' someone, you teach them something — often a skill — very thoroughly. It can also carry a slightly competitive feeling, like when someone is so much better than another person that they are practically giving them a lesson.
everyday language / informal · Modern, widely used · figurative