dis ‧ ser ‧ ta ‧ tion /ˌdɪsəˈteɪʃ ə n $ ˌdɪsər-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: dissertatio , from dissertare 'to discuss' ]
a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one written for a university degree ⇨ thesis
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ essay a piece of writing written by a student as part of a course of study:
We had to write an essay about the environment.
|
Have you handed in your essay yet?
▪ paper an essay written by a someone who has studied a subject as part of their research. Paper is also used about an essay that you have to write for a class at school, especially in American English:
The professor has published over forty scientific papers on diseases of tropical crops
|
At the beginning of the school year we had to write a paper about our interests.
▪ dissertation a long essay written as part of a university degree:
In the third year of their course, students have to write a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic that has been approved by their tutor.
▪ thesis a very long essay that is part of an advanced university degree such as a master’s degree or a doctorate:
He wrote his doctoral thesis on the literature of the English romantic movement.