Definitions of Teaching and Learning

When one is asked to define teaching and learning, reaching for good old Mr. Webster won't do the trick. There is so much more to these concepts than part of speech and word origin. Actually, there is so much more to teaching and learning than their listed definitions provide.
The definitions of teaching and learning will surely vary depending on who you ask. In fact, here is an article from Education Week: Teacher Professional Development Sourcebook containing the thoughts of various leaders in today's education system about their beliefs on the definitions of teaching and learning:

"How Do You Define 21st-Century Learning?"

Personally, my definitions of teaching and learning are tightly interwoven, and they are as follows:

Teaching: Teaching is the opportunity to deliver information in such a way that students are able to process the information clearly and then synthesize that basic information into a living, working knowledge. Teaching is creating an environment that is stimulating while implementing the available tools for learning, as well as creating or bringing new tools to the environment. Teaching is recognizing potential, fostering its growth, and leading the learner to achieve his or her fullest potential. 

Learning: Learning is taking in facts, cues, stimuli, ideas, and symbols and then synthesizing, evaluating, and applying those gained materials to new problems. Learning is the process of thinking critically and utilizing skills those new problems. Learning is a process of exploration, inquiry, and discovery. Learning is using available, shared technology and resources to seek out new perspective. Learning is doing all these things in order to reach a more fulfilled and realized potential, and thus achieve.