■ noun ( plural studies )
1》 the devotion of time and attention to acquiring knowledge, especially from books.
↘( studies ) work done by a person to acquire knowledge.
↘( studies ) used in the title of an academic subject: a course in transport studies.
2》 a detailed investigation and analysis of a subject or situation.
↘ archaic a thing that is or deserves to be investigated.
3》 a room for reading, writing, or academic work.
4》 a piece of work, especially a drawing, done for practice or as an experiment.
↘a musical composition designed to develop a player's technical skill.
5》 ( a ~ in ) a good example of (a quality or emotion): he perched on the bed, a ~ in misery.
6》 theatrical slang a person who memorizes a role at a specified speed. See also quick ~ .
■ verb ( studies , ~ing , studied )
1》 acquire knowledge about.
↘make a ~ of.
↘apply oneself to ~.
↘( ~ up ) US learn intensively about something, especially in preparation for a test.
↘(of an actor) try to learn (the words of one's role).
2》 look at closely in order to observe or read.
3》 [as adjective studied ] done with deliberate and careful effort.
Phrases
in a brown ~ absorbed in one's thoughts. [appar. orig. from brown in the sense 'gloomy'.]
Derivatives
studiedly adverb
studiedness noun
Origin
ME: shortening of OFr. estudie (n.), estudier (v.), both based on L. studium 'zeal, painstaking application'.