/ ˈstʌdi; NAmE / noun , verb
■ noun
( pl. -ies )
ACTIVITY OF LEARNING
1.
[ U ] the activity of learning or gaining knowledge, either from books or by examining things in the world :
a room set aside for private study
academic / literary / scientific, etc. study
It is important to develop good study skills .
Physiology is the study of how living things work.
2.
studies [ pl. ] ( formal ) a particular person's learning activities, for example at a college or university :
to continue your studies
ACADEMIC SUBJECT
3.
studies [ U+sing./pl. v . ] used in the names of some academic subjects :
business / media / American studies
DETAILED EXAMINATION
4.
[ U ] the act of considering or examining sth in detail :
These proposals deserve careful study.
5.
[ C ] a piece of research that examines a subject or question in detail :
to make / carry out / conduct a study
This study shows / confirms / suggests that ...
a detailed study of how animals adapt to their environment
—see also case study
ROOM
6.
[ C ] a room, especially in sb's home, used for reading and writing
ART
7.
[ C ] a drawing or painting of sth, especially one done for practice or before doing a larger picture :
a study of Chartres Cathedral
a nude study
MUSIC
8.
( BrE ) (also étude NAmE , BrE ) [ C ] a piece of music designed to give a player practice in technical skills
PERFECT EXAMPLE
9.
[ sing. ] study (in sth) ( formal ) a perfect example of sth :
His face was a study in concentration.
•
IDIOMS
see brown adjective
■ verb
( stud·ies , study·ing , stud·ied , stud·ied )
LEARN
1.
study (sth) (at ... ) | study (for sth) to spend time learning about a subject by reading, going to college, etc. :
[ vn ]
How long have you been studying English?
[ v ]
Don't disturb Jane, she's studying for her exams.
My brother studied at the Royal College of Art.
a composer who studied under Nadia Boulanger (= was taught by Nadia Boulanger)
[ v to inf ]
Nina is studying to be an architect.
EXAMINE CAREFULLY
2.
[ vn ] to watch, or look at sb/sth carefully in order to find out sth :
Scientists are studying photographs of the planet for signs of life.
He studied her face thoughtfully.
Fran was studying the menu.
3.
to examine sth carefully in order to understand it :
[ vn ]
We will study the report carefully before making a decision.
[ v wh- ]
The group will study how the region coped with the loss of thousands of jobs.
➡ note at examine
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : shortening of Old French estudie (noun), estudier (verb), both based on Latin studium zeal, painstaking application.