study
Other forms: studies; studied; studying
It might seem as if you've gone catatonic, staring at a crack in the sidewalk for so long, but really you're observing it as closely as possible for your study of ant movement.
Study has many different senses related to learning or concentrating. You might make a drawing of something you'll paint later — the drawing's a study. Your boss might ask you to do a study of your office's energy use. As a verb, study is for the work you do in the library, or for the act of really taking something in, the way you study your friend's face to see if she really forgot your birthday or if she's just joking.
Definitions of study
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applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)“no schools offer graduate study in interior design”
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synonyms:
work
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type of:
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acquisition, learning
the cognitive process of acquiring skill or knowledge
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acquisition, learning
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a branch of knowledge“anthropology is the study of human beings”
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synonyms:
bailiwick, discipline, field, field of study, subject, subject area, subject field
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types:
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occultism
the study of the supernatural
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communication theory, communications
the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.)
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major
the principal field of study of a student at a university
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frontier
an undeveloped field of study; a topic inviting research and development
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genealogy
the study or investigation of ancestry and family history
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allometry
the study of the relative growth of a part of an organism in relation to the growth of the whole
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bibliotics
the scientific study of documents and handwriting etc. especially to determine authorship or authenticity
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ology
an informal word (abstracted from words with this ending) for some unidentified branch of knowledge
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science, scientific discipline
a particular branch of scientific knowledge
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architecture
the discipline dealing with the principles of design and construction and ornamentation of fine buildings
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applied science, engineering, engineering science, technology
the discipline dealing with the art or science of applying scientific knowledge to practical problems
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futuristics, futurology
the study or prediction of future developments on the basis of existing conditions
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arts, humanistic discipline, humanities, liberal arts
studies intended to provide general knowledge and intellectual skills (rather than occupational or professional skills)
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divinity, theology
the rational and systematic study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truth
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military science
the discipline dealing with the principles of warfare
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escapology
the study of methods of escaping (especially as a form of entertainment)
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graphology
the study of handwriting (especially as an indicator of the writer's character or disposition)
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numerology
the study of the supposed occult influence of numbers on human affairs
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protology
the study of origins and first things
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theogony
the study of the origins and genealogy of the gods
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science
a branch of study or knowledge involving the observation, investigation, and discovery of general laws or truths that can be tested systematically
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forensics
the art or study of formal debate and argumentation
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natural history
the scientific study of plants or animals (more observational than experimental) usually published in popular magazines rather than in academic journals
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symbology
the study or the use of symbols and symbolism
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natural science, science
the sciences involved in the study of the physical world and its phenomena
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math, mathematics, maths
a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangement
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agronomy, scientific agriculture
the application of soil and plant sciences to land management and crop production
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agrobiology
the study of plant nutrition and growth especially as a way to increase crop yield
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agrology
science of soils in relation to crops
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architectonics, tectonics
the science of architecture
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landscape architecture
the branch of architecture dealing with the arrangement of land and buildings for human use and enjoyment
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urban planning
the branch of architecture dealing with the design and organization of urban space and activities
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interior design
the branch of architecture dealing with the selection and organization of furnishings for an architectural interior
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metallurgy
the science and technology of metals
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aeronautical engineering
the branch of engineering science concerned with the design and construction of aircraft
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bionics
application of biological principles to the study and design of engineering systems (especially electronic systems)
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bioengineering, biotechnology, ergonomics
the branch of engineering science in which biological science is used to study the relation between workers and their environments
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chemical engineering
the branch of engineering that is concerned with the design and construction and operation of the plants and machinery used in industrial chemical processes
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civil engineering
the branch of engineering concerned with the design and construction of such public works as dams or bridges
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EE, electrical engineering
the branch of engineering science that studies the uses of electricity and the equipment for power generation and distribution and the control of machines and communication
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computer science, computing
the branch of engineering science that studies (with the aid of computers) computable processes and structures
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architectural engineering
the branch of engineering that deals with the construction of buildings (as distinguished from architecture as a design art)
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industrial engineering, industrial management
the branch of engineering that deals with the creation and management of systems that integrate people and materials and energy in productive ways
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IT, information technology
the branch of engineering that deals with the use of computers and telecommunications to retrieve and store and transmit information
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mechanical engineering
the branch of engineering that deals with the design and construction and operation of machinery
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nanotechnology
the branch of engineering that deals with things smaller than 100 nanometers (especially with the manipulation of individual molecules)
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nuclear engineering
the branch of engineering concerned with the design and construction and operation of nuclear reactors
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naval engineering
the branch of engineering that deals with the design and construction and operation of ships
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rocketry
the branch of engineering science that studies rocket design and operation
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metrology
the scientific study of measurement
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nutrition
the scientific study of food and drink (especially in humans)
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psychological science, psychology
the science of mental life
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IP, informatics, information processing, information science
the sciences concerned with gathering, manipulating, storing, retrieving, and classifying recorded information
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cognitive science
the field of science concerned with cognition; includes parts of cognitive psychology and linguistics and computer science and cognitive neuroscience and philosophy of mind
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social science
the branch of science that studies society and the relationships of individual within a society
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strategics
the science or art of strategy
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systematics
the science of systematic classification
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thanatology
the branch of science that studies death (especially its social and psychological aspects)
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neoclassicism
revival of a classical style (in art or literature or architecture or music) but from a new perspective or with a new motivation
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classicalism, classicism
a movement in literature and art during the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe that favored rationality and restraint and strict forms
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Romantic Movement, Romanticism
a movement in literature and art during the late 18th and early 19th centuries that celebrated nature rather than civilization
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English
the discipline that studies the English language and literature
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history
the discipline that records and interprets past events involving human beings
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art history
the academic discipline that studies the development of painting and sculpture
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chronology
the determination of the actual temporal sequence of past events
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beaux arts, fine arts
the study and creation of visual works of art
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performing arts
arts or skills that require public performance
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Occidentalism
the scholarly knowledge of western cultures and languages and people
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Oriental Studies, Orientalism
the scholarly knowledge of Asian cultures and languages and people
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philosophy
the rational investigation of questions about existence and knowledge and ethics
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literary study
the humanistic study of literature
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library science
the study of the principles and practices of library administration
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linguistics, philology
the humanistic study of language and literature
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musicology
the scholarly and scientific study of music
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Sinology
the study of Chinese history and language and culture
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stemmatics, stemmatology
the humanistic discipline that attempts to reconstruct the transmission of a text (especially a text in manuscript form) on the basis of relations between the various surviving manuscripts (sometimes using cladistic analysis)
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trivium
(Middle Ages) an introductory curriculum at a medieval university involving grammar and logic and rhetoric; considered to be a triple way to eloquence
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quadrivium
(Middle Ages) a higher division of the curriculum in a medieval university involving arithmetic and music and geometry and astronomy
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cryptanalysis, cryptanalytics, cryptography, cryptology
the science of analyzing and deciphering codes and ciphers and cryptograms
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linguistics
the scientific study of language
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angelology
the branch of theology that is concerned with angels
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apologetics
the branch of theology that is concerned with the defense of Christian doctrines
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ecclesiology
the branch of theology concerned with the nature and the constitution and the functions of a church
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eschatology
the branch of theology that is concerned with such final things as death and Last Judgment; Heaven and Hell; the ultimate destiny of humankind
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hermeneutics
the branch of theology that deals with principles of exegesis
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homiletics
the branch of theology that deals with sermons and homilies
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liturgics, liturgiology
the study of liturgies
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theodicy
the branch of theology that defends God's goodness and justice in the face of the existence of evil
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tactics
the branch of military science dealing with detailed maneuvers to achieve objectives set by strategy
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strategy
the branch of military science dealing with military command and the planning and conduct of a war
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aerospace
the branch of science related to space flight and aviation
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type of:
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domain, knowledge base, knowledge domain
the content of a particular field of knowledge
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a detailed critical inspection
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synonyms:
survey
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types:
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resurvey
a new survey or study
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type of:
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examination, scrutiny
the act of examining something closely (as for mistakes)
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resurvey
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attentive consideration and meditation
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synonyms:
cogitation
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types:
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lucubration
laborious cogitation
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type of:
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contemplation, musing, reflection, reflexion, rumination, thoughtfulness
a calm, lengthy, intent consideration
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lucubration
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a state of deep mental absorption“she is in a deep study”
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type of:
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absorption, concentration, engrossment, immersion
complete attention; intense mental effort
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absorption, concentration, engrossment, immersion
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consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
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types:
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anatomise, anatomize
analyze down to the smallest detail
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diagnose, name
determine or distinguish the nature of a problem or an illness through a diagnostic analysis
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diagnose
subject to a medical analysis
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appraise, survey
consider in a comprehensive way
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survey
make a survey of; for statistical purposes
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compare
examine and note the similarities or differences of
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check, check into, check out, check over, check up on, go over, look into, suss out
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
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assay
analyze (chemical substances)
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reexamine, review
look at again; examine again
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audit, inspect, scrutinise, scrutinize
examine carefully for accuracy with the intent of verification
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screen
examine methodically
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follow, trace
follow, discover, or ascertain the course of development of something
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investigate, look into
investigate scientifically
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sieve, sift
check and sort carefully
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consider, look at, view
look at carefully; study mentally
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process
analyze or examine so as to come to terms with
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explore
examine (organs) for diagnostic purposes
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explore
examine minutely
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delve, explore, research, search
inquire into
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explore
travel to or penetrate into
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analogise, analogize
make an analogy
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collate
compare critically; of texts
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bioassay
subject to a bio-assay
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examine, probe
question or examine thoroughly and closely
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research
attempt to find out in a systematic and scientific manner
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contemplate
look at thoughtfully; observe deep in thought
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groak
look or stare at longingly
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canvas, canvass, poll
get the opinions (of people) by asking specific questions
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follow, keep an eye on, observe, watch, watch over
follow with the eyes or the mind
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experiment
conduct a test or investigation
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give careful consideration to
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synonyms:
consider
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consider, debate, deliberate, moot, turn over
think about carefully; weigh
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types:
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factor, factor in, factor out
consider as relevant when making a decision
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compare, equate, liken
consider or describe as similar, equal, or analogous
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type of:
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chew over, contemplate, excogitate, meditate, mull, mull over, muse, ponder, reflect, ruminate, speculate, think over
reflect deeply on a subject
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consider, debate, deliberate, moot, turn over
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think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes
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synonyms:
contemplate, meditate
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be a student; follow a course of study; be enrolled at an institute of learning
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types:
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major
have as one's principal field of study
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major
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be a student of a certain subject
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types:
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audit
attend academic courses without getting credit
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prepare, train
undergo training or instruction in preparation for a particular role, function, or profession
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drill, exercise, practice, practise
learn by repetition
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apprentice
be or work as an apprentice
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retrain
train again
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drill
undergo military training or do military exercises
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apply oneself to learning or reviewing a subject, especially by reading books“He is studying geology in his room”
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synonyms:
hit the books
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a room used for reading and writing and studying“he knocked lightly on the closed door of the study”
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type of:
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room
an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling
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room
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a written document describing the findings of some individual or group“this accords with the recent study by Hill and Dale”
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synonyms:
report, written report
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types:
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assay
a written report of the results of an analysis of the composition of some substance
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case study
a careful study of some social unit (as a corporation or division within a corporation) that attempts to determine what factors led to its success or failure
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white book, white paper
a government report; bound in white
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blue book
a report published by the British government; bound in blue
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green paper
a preliminary report of government proposals that is published in order to stimulate discussion
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progress report
a report of work accomplished during a specified time period
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position paper
a report that explains or justifies or recommends some particular policy
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medical report
a report of the results of a medical examination of a patient
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type of:
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document, papers, written document
writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)
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preliminary drawing for later elaboration“he made several studies before starting to paint”
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synonyms:
sketch
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types:
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design
a preliminary sketch indicating the plan for something
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draft, rough drawing
a preliminary sketch of a design or picture
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vignette
a small illustrative sketch (as sometimes placed at the beginning of chapters in books)
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type of:
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drawing
a representation of forms or objects on a surface by means of lines
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design
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a composition intended to develop one aspect of the performer's technique“a study in spiccato bowing”
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type of:
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composition, musical composition, opus, piece, piece of music
a musical work that has been created
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composition, musical composition, opus, piece, piece of music
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someone who memorizes quickly and easily (as the lines for a part in a play)
Pronunciation
US
/ˈstədi/
UK
/ˈstədi/
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