- a detailed critical inspection

- preliminary drawing for later elaboration
"he made several studies before starting to paint"

- a room used for reading and writing and studying
"he knocked lightly on the closed door of the study"

- a state of deep mental absorption
"she is in a deep study"

- applying the mind to learning and understanding a subject (especially by reading)
"mastering a second language requires a lot of work"
"no schools offer graduate study in interior design"

- attentive consideration and meditation
"after much cogitation he rejected the offer"

- a branch of knowledge
"in what discipline is his doctorate?"
"teachers should be well trained in their subject"
"anthropology is the study of human beings"

- a composition intended to develop one aspect of the performer''s technique
"a study in spiccato bowing"

- a written document describing the findings of some individual or group
"this accords with the recent study by Hill and Dale"

- someone who memorizes quickly and easily (as the lines for a part in a play)
"he is a quick study"

- be a student of a certain subject
"She is reading for the bar exam"

- learn by reading books
"He is studying geology in his room"
"I have an exam next week

- I must hit the books now"

- be a student

- follow a course of study

- be enrolled at an institute of learning

- consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning
"analyze a sonnet by Shakespeare"
"analyze the evidence in a criminal trial"
"analyze your real motives"

- think intently and at length, as for spiritual purposes
"He is meditating in his study"

- give careful consideration to
"consider the possibility of moving"

1. A setting of the mind or thoughts upon a subject; hence, application of mind to books, arts, or science, or to any subject, for the purpose of acquiring knowledge.

"Hammond . . . spent thirteen hours of the day in study." -- Bp. Fell.

"Study gives strength to the mind; conversation, grace." -- Sir W. Temple.

2. Mental occupation; absorbed or thoughtful attention; meditation; contemplation.

"Just men they seemed, and all their study bent To worship God aright, and know his works." -- Milton.

3. Any particular branch of learning that is studied; any object of attentive consideration.

"The Holy Scriptures, especially the New Testament, are her daily study." -- Law.

"The proper study of mankind is man." -- Pope.

4. A building or apartment devoted to study or to literary work. "His cheery little study." Hawthorne.

5. (Fine Arts) A representation or rendering of any object or scene intended, not for exhibition as an original work of art, but for the information, instruction, or assistance of the maker; as, a study of heads or of hands for a figure picture.

6. (Mus.) A piece for special practice. See Etude.

1. To fix the mind closely upon a subject; to dwell upon anything in thought; to muse; to ponder. Chaucer.

"I found a moral first, and then studied for a fable." -- Swift.

2. To apply the mind to books or learning. Shak.

3. To endeavor diligently; to be zealous. 1 Thes. iv. 11.

1. To apply the mind to; to read and examine for the purpose of learning and understanding; as, to study law or theology; to study languages.

2. To consider attentively; to examine closely; as, to study the work of nature.

"Study thyself; what rank or what degree The wise Creator has ordained for thee." -- Dryden.

3. To form or arrange by previous thought; to con over, as in committing to memory; as, to study a speech.

4. To make an object of study; to aim at sedulously; to devote one's thoughts to; as, to study the welfare of others; to study variety in composition.

"For their heart studieth destruction." -- Prov. xxiv. 2.