Study

Middle English studie, from Old French estudier (Modern French Ã©tudier), from Latin studium.

In sense of private room, from Italian studiolo. Cognate to studio, also from Italian.

Full definition of study

(usually academic) To revise materials already learned in order to make sure one does not forget them, usually in preparation for an examination.Students are expected to start studying for final exams in March.I need to study my biology notes.
(academic) To take a course or courses on a subject.I study medicine at the university.
To acquire knowledge on a subject.Biologists study living things.
To look at minutely.He studied the map in preparation for the hike.
To fix the mind closely upon a subject; to dwell upon anything in thought; to muse; to ponder.

(plural studies)

1485, Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d'Arthur, Book I.20:Thenne the kyng sat in a study and bad his men fetche his hors as faste as euer they myghte.

(archaic) Thought, as directed to a specific purpose; one's concern.
My study was to avoid disturbing her.

John Milton (1608-1674)Just men they seemed, and all their study bent
To worship God aright, and know his works.

Mental effort to acquire knowledge or learning.
The study of languages is fascinating.

1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. HammondDuring the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant...
1699, William Temple, Heads designed for an essay on conversationsStudy gives strength to the mind; conversation, grace: the first apt to give stiffness, the other suppleness: one gives substance and form to the statue, the other polishes it.
2012, John T. Jost, Social Justice: Is It in Our Nature (and Our Future)?, He draws eclectically on studies of baboons, descriptive anthropological accounts of hunter-gatherer societies and, in a few cases, the fossil record.

The act of studying; examination.
I made a careful study of his sister.
Any particular branch of learning that is studied; any object of attentive consideration.

William Law (1686-1761)The Holy Scriptures, especially the New Testament, are her daily study.
Alexander Pope (1688-1744)The proper study of mankind is man.
2013, Katie L. Burke, In the News, Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:.... The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.

(room)A room in a house intended for reading and writing; traditionally the private room of the male head of household.
Father spends all his time in the study poring over manuscripts.

An artwork made in order to practise or demonstrate a subject or technique.
a study of heads or of hands for a figure picture
(music) A piece for special practice; an etude.