Educate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Educated; p. pr. & vb. n. Educating.]
Etymology: [L. educatus, p. p. of educare to bring up a child physically or mentally, to educate, fr. educere to Educe.]
To bring as, to educate a child; to educate the eye or the taste.
Syn. -- To develop; instruct; teach; inform; enlighten; edify; bring up; train; breed; rear; discipline; indoctrinate.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for educate; he lists it under teach.
Where he writes about it:
To educate is to draw out or develop harmoniously the mental powers, and, in the fullest sense, the moral powers as well. — from teach
Train is used in preference to educate when the reference is to the inferior animals or to the physical powers of man; as, to train a horse; to train the hand or eye. — from teach
To nurture is to furnish the care and sustenance necessary for physical, mental, and moral growth; nurture is a more tender and homelike word than educate. — from teach