study
study — noun
1. a piece of work that investigates a specific topic in depth, done to discover an
a piece of work that investigates a specific topic in depth, done to discover and share new findings about it
A recent medical study shows that walking for thirty minutes each day improves heart health.
collocation: recent study / medical study
The university study on ocean pollution was published in a well-known science journal.
pattern: study on [topic]
According to this study, children who read at home tend to perform better in school.
Otis spent three years working on a study about how birds find their way over long distances.
The study examined the effects of traffic noise on people's ability to fall asleep at night.
- research
uncountable and broader; 'study' often refers to one specific project
- investigation
more formal; often used in legal or criminal contexts
- analysis
focuses on breaking data into parts rather than collecting new data
文法句型
a study of [topic]
a study on [topic]
用法筆記
Often used with adjectives that describe the type of research: 'scientific study', 'clinical study', 'detailed study'. Commonly followed by 'of', 'on', or 'about' to indicate the topic.
常見錯誤
2. a drawing or quick painting created by an artist as a test or practice piece bef
a drawing or quick painting created by an artist as a test or practice piece before making the final finished work
Rania made a charcoal study of a woman's hands before she started the portrait.
pattern: a [medium] study of [subject]
The gallery display includes a study for the famous painting of the royal family.
pattern: a study for [final artwork]
Nora's pencil study of an old oak tree captured every detail of the bark and leaves.
Antonia used her study of light and shadow to plan the final watercolour scene.
Quinn drew the ballerina's feet twenty times from different angles as a study for her dance series.
- sketch
implies a quicker, less detailed drawing
- preliminary drawing
more technical; stresses that it comes before the final piece
文法句型
a study of [subject]
a study for [artwork]
用法筆記
Distinguish from 'sketch' — a study is more deliberate and focused on solving a specific artistic problem (lighting, composition, anatomy), while a sketch is quicker and more informal.
常見錯誤
3. the process of acquiring knowledge by reading, attending lessons, or carrying ou
the process of acquiring knowledge by reading, attending lessons, or carrying out research — viewed as an ongoing activity rather than a single task
Mateo's study of ancient Greek took three years of evening classes before he could read the original texts.
pattern: the study of [academic subject]
Kabir's studies at medical school take up most of his time each week.
plural form: studies at [institution]
Min enjoys the study of nature and spends every weekend in the forest near her home.
After years of study, Andrew finally received his degree in civil engineering.
The study of computer programming has become very popular among young people in Taiwan.
文法句型
the study of [subject]
[possessive] studies
用法筆記
Usually uncountable when referring to the general activity. The plural 'studies' is used when referring to a specific person's learning activities or a programme of learning.
4. the sustained time and focused mental effort that someone spends on learning, es
the sustained time and focused mental effort that someone spends on learning, especially when preparing for a specific test or working towards a particular goal
After twelve hours of study for her law school entrance exam, Yan fell asleep at her desk before dinner.
uncountable: [number] hours of study for [exam]
Bao put in three hours of study before the final mathematics exam.
pattern: [number] hours of study
Weeks of study at the medical library helped Dr. Hassan pass the specialist exam on his first try.
Eshe set aside two hours for study every evening after dinner.
His study of Japanese grammar every morning helped him speak more fluently within six months.
- revision
British English; specifically reviewing material already learned
- preparation
broader; can include non-academic tasks like gathering materials
文法句型
[amount] of study
study of [topic]
用法筆記
Uncountable. Unlike sense 3 (ACADEMIC LEARNING), this sense emphasises the effort and time spent rather than the activity as a whole. Frequently appears in phrases like 'hours of study' or 'a period of study'.
常見錯誤
5. used as part of the title of an academic subject or course at a school, college,
used as part of the title of an academic subject or course at a school, college, or university
Sivan chose to study media studies at the University of Cape Town.
compound name: media studies
The school offers popular courses in business studies and communication.
Joaquín is taking a class in American studies this semester at college.
Paul thinks that gender studies should be offered to all university students.
Ziad chose environmental studies at the University of Nairobi because he wanted to work on climate policy.
- subject
simpler and more general; doesn't carry the '-studies' compound form
- discipline
more formal; refers to a branch of knowledge
文法句型
[modifier] studies
用法筆記
Always appears as part of a compound noun. The form is plural (e.g. 'business studies', 'media studies'). In academic contexts the first letter is often capitalised when used in official course names.
常見錯誤
6. a room in a house or apartment that is used for reading, writing, or working qui
a room in a house or apartment that is used for reading, writing, or working quietly
Otis keeps his collection of poetry on the shelf in his study.
possessive: his study
The study has large windows and a fireplace where Christopher reads on Sunday mornings.
activity: reading in the study
Rania decorated her study with maps and a large wooden desk.
Kabir closed the study door so he could read his book without any noise from the living room.
The study was the quietest room in the house, with bookshelves covering three walls.
- home office
more modern; emphasises working rather than reading
- den
more informal and casual; common in American English
文法句型
[possessive] study
in the study
用法筆記
More common in British English than American English, where 'den' or 'home office' are often used instead. Refers specifically to a room — distinct from the activity senses (1, 3, 4).
常見錯誤
study — verb
1. to spend time reading books, going to classes, or doing research in order to gai
to spend time reading books, going to classes, or doing research in order to gain knowledge about a particular subject
Nora studies biology at the University of São Paulo.
transitive: study + [subject]
Min studies French every morning before going to work at the hospital.
Andrew is studying to become a nurse at a local community college.
Antonia studied the user guide carefully before turning on the new video camera.
Paul studied hard for the biology test and got the highest score in his class.
文法句型
study + [subject]
study for + [exam]
study to become + [profession]
用法筆記
Can be used transitively (study a subject) or intransitively (study for an exam, study to become something). The intransitive form often appears with 'for' or 'to'.
常見錯誤
2. to look at something very closely and with great attention, trying to notice its
to look at something very closely and with great attention, trying to notice its details or understand what it means
The detective studied the blurry security video for any useful details.
object: visual material (photo, video, map)
Bao studied the hiking trail map before leaving the car at the starting point.
Eshe studied her brother's face carefully to see if he was telling the truth.
Sivan studied the fine print of the rental contract before signing it.
Joaquín studied the old photograph on the wall, searching for his grandmother's face.
- examine
more formal; can be used for medical or scientific contexts
- inspect
suggests looking for faults or problems
- scrutinise
more intense; implies very careful, critical examination
文法句型
study + [object]
用法筆記
Typically used with objects that have visual detail: a face, a document, a map, a photograph. Not used for academic subjects — that is sense 1. Frequently occurs with intensifiers like 'carefully' or 'closely'.