knowing and learning

recognize

rec·og·nize (BrE also -ise) [recognize recognizes recognized recognizing]   [ˈrekəɡnaɪz]    [ˈrekəɡnaɪz]  verb

(not used in the progressive tenses)

1. to know who sb is or what sth is when you see or hear them, because you have seen or heard them or it before
• ~ sb/sth I recognized him as soon as he came in the room.
• Do you recognize this tune?

• ~ sb/sth by/from sth I recognized her by her red hair.

2. to admit or to be aware that sth exists or is true
Syn:  acknowledge
• ~ sth They recognized the need to take the problem seriously.
• ~ sth as sth Drugs were not recognized as a problem then.
• ~ how, what, etc… Nobody recognized how urgent the situation was.
• ~ that… We recognized that the task was not straightforward.
• it is recognized that… It was recognized that this solution could only be temporary.

• ~ sb/sth to be/have sth Drugs were not recognized to be a problem then.

3. to accept and approve of sb/sth officially
• ~ sb/sth (as sth) recognized qualifications
• The UK has refused to recognize the new regime.

• be recognized to be/have sth He is recognized to be their natural leader.

4. be recognized (as sth) to be thought of as very good or important by people in general
• The book is now recognized as a classic.

• She's a recognized authority on the subject.

5. ~ sb/sth to give sb official thanks for sth that they have done or achieved
• His services to the state were recognized with the award of a knighthood.
See also: -ise
Verb forms:
 
Word Origin:
late Middle English (earliest attested as a term in Scots law): from Old French reconniss-, stem of reconnaistre, from Latin recognoscere ‘know again, recall to mind’, from re- ‘again’ + cognoscere ‘learn’.  
Thesaurus:
recognize (BrE also -ise) verb
1. T (not used in the progressive tenses)
• I recognized him by the way he walked.
know • • identify • • place • • pick sb/sth out • • make sb/sth out • |formal discern •
recognize/know/identify sb/sth by sth
recognize/identify sb/sth as sb/sth
recognize/know/identify/make out/discern who/what/how…
Recognize or know? Know is used especially to talk about sounds, or when sb recognizes the quality or opportunity that sb/sth represents, as in the phrase sb knows a…when they see one:
• I know that voice/laugh/tune!
• He knows a lady when he sees one.
Recognize can also be used in this way but sounds slightly more formal. Know is not usually used to talk about people:
• I recognized him as soon as he came in.
 ¤ I knew him as soon as he came in.
2. T (not used in the progressive tenses)
• The directors recognize that there is a serious problem.
admit • • acknowledge • • grant • • concede • • confess •
recognize/admit/acknowledge/grant/concede/confess that…
It is/was (generally) recognized/admitted/acknowledged/granted/conceded that…
you must recognize/admit/acknowledge/grant/concede/confess sth
3. T (not used in the progressive tenses)
• These qualifications are internationally recognized.
approve • • confirm • • ratify • • certify • |formal validate •
recognize/approve/confirm/ratify/certify/validate sth as sth
recognize/approve/validate a course
officially recognize/approve/confirm/ratify sth 
Example Bank:
• All rivers should be officially recognized as public rights of way.
• Criminal law implicitly recognizes a difference between animals and property.
• Do any US states currently recognize gay marriage?
• He readily recognizes the influence of Freud on his thinking.
• He recognized the man as one of the police officers.
• I immediately recognized the building.
• I recognized them from a television show.
• I vaguely recognized his voice, but couldn't think of his name.
• It's important to recognize that obesity isn't necessarily caused by overeating.
• She recognized the song correctly.
• Stella hardly recognized her brother.
• The 1970s are rightly recognized as a golden era of Hollywood film-making.
• The Medway estuary is recognized internationally as a conservation area.
• The company had been slow to recognize the opportunities available to it.
• The company should publicly recognize its mistake.
• The court explicitly recognized the group's right to exist.
• The estuary is recognized internationally as an important area for wildlife.
• The government has belatedly recognized the danger to health of passive smoking.
• The law clearly recognizes that a company is separate from those who invest in it.
• The strength of this argument is being increasingly recognized.
• They fully recognize the need to proceed carefully.
• This is the only species of flamingo in the region, easily recognized by its pink plumage.
• This issue must be recognized as a priority for the next administration.
• You learn to recognize the calls of different birds.
• I recognized him by the way he walked.
• The qualifications are internationally recognized.

• We barely recognized her— she had changed so much in ten years.

study

study [study studies studied studying] noun, verb   [ˈstʌdi]    [ˈstʌdi] 

noun (pl. studies) 

ACTIVITY OF LEARNING
1. uncountable 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 plural (formal) a particular person's learning activities, for example at a college or university

• to continue your studies  

ACADEMIC SUBJECT

3. studies uncountable + singular or plural verb used in the names of some academic subjects

• business/media/American studies  

DETAILED EXAMINATION

4. uncountable the act of considering or examining sth in detail

• These proposals deserve careful study.

5. countable 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
• scientific studies of fishing grounds and methods of fishing

see also  case study  

ROOM

6. countable a room, especially in sb's home, used for reading and writing  

ART
7. countable 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) countable a piece of music designed to give a player practice in technical skills  

PERFECT EXAMPLE
9. singular ~ (in sth) (formal) a perfect example of sth
• His face was a study in concentration.
see in a brown study at  brown  _adj.  
Word Origin:
Middle English: shortening of Old French estudie (noun), estudier (verb), both based on Latin studium ‘zeal, painstaking application’.  
Collocations:
Scientific research
Theory
formulate/advance a theory/hypothesis
build/construct/create/develop a simple/theoretical/mathematical model
develop/establish/provide/use a theoretical/conceptual framework
advance/argue/develop the thesis that…
explore an idea/a concept/a hypothesis
make a prediction/an inference
base a prediction/your calculations on sth
investigate/evaluate/accept/challenge/reject a theory/hypothesis/model
Experiment
design an experiment/a questionnaire/a study/a test
do research/an experiment/an analysis
make observations/measurements/calculations
carry out/conduct/perform an experiment/a test/a longitudinal study/observations/clinical trials
run an experiment/a simulation/clinical trials
repeat an experiment/a test/an analysis
replicate a study/the results/the findings
observe/study/examine/investigate/assess a pattern/a process/a behaviour/(especially US) a behavior
fund/support the research/project/study
seek/provide/get/secure funding for research
Results
collect/gather/extract data/information
yield data/evidence/similar findings/the same results
analyse/examine the data/soil samples/a specimen
consider/compare/interpret the results/findings
fit the data/model
confirm/support/verify a prediction/a hypothesis/the results/the findings
prove a conjecture/hypothesis/theorem
draw/make/reach the same conclusions
read/review the records/literature
describe/report an experiment/a study
present/publish/summarize the results/findings
present/publish/read/review/cite a paper in a scientific journal 
Example Bank:
• A new study shows that fewer students are studying science.
• A preliminary study suggested that the product would be popular.
• A study group meets every Sunday at the church.
• An independent study was commissioned by the department.
• He has made a special study of the way that birds communicate with one another.
• He lectures in management studies.
• In a recent study, 40% of schools were found to be understaffed.
• Many undertake further studies after college.
• Many undertake further studies after passing their A levels.
• Now that her children are all at school, she's going to take up full-time study again.
• Princeton's African American studies department
• Research studies carried out in Italy confirmed the theory.
• Shakespeare is the subject of a new study by Anthony Bryan.
• She devoted herself to a serious study of the Koran.
• She returned to her studies when her children reached school age.
• She's doing women's studies at Liverpool University.
• Students do a foundation year before specializing in their chosen field of study.
• The company allows its staff to take paid study leave.
• The company undertook an extensive feasibility study before adopting the new system.
• The course integrates academic study and practical training.
• The first part of the course is designed to develop students' study skills.
• The present study reveals an unacceptable level of air pollution in the city centre.
• The study aims to examine bias in television news coverage.
• The study compares the incidence of bone cancer in men and women.
• The study group was selected from a broad cross section of the population.
• The study highlighted three problem areas.
• The study provided valuable insight into the development of the disease.
• The ten-year study covered 13 000 people aged 15-25.
• This grammar book is suitable both for classroom use and for independent study.
• This phenomenon has been observed in both laboratory and field studies.
• This phenomenon has been observed in field studies.
• When he has completed his studies, he'll travel around the world.
• a close study of energy prices
• a comparative study of the environmental costs of different energy sources
• a definitive study on medieval weapons
• a detailed case study of nine companies
• a longitudinal study of children in low-income families
• a study based on a sample of male white-collar workers
• a study commissioned by the World Bank
• a study into the viability of the mine
• full-time study for an MA
• the biochemical process under study
• the university's cultural studies course
• A comparative study was carried out into the environmental costs of different energy sources.
• A detailed study of the area was carried out.
• He needed more leisure to pursue his studies.
• I returned to full-time study once my kids were all at school.
• It's important to develop good study skills.
• She crossed the hallway and opened the door to her private study.
• Students in the same field of study may have very different skill levels.
• The scientific study of American dialects began in 1889.

• There's a quiet room set aside for private study.

verb (stud·ies, study·ing, stud·ied, stud·ied) 
LEARN
1. transitive, intransitive ~ (for sth) to spend time learning about a subject by reading, going to college, etc
• ~ (sth) How long have you been studying English?
• Don't disturb Jane, she's studying for her exams.
• ~ (sth) at… My brother studied at the Royal College of Art.
• ~ (sth) under… a composer who studied under Nadia Boulanger (= was taught by Nadia Boulanger)

• ~ to do/be sth Nina is studying to be an architect.  

EXAMINE CAREFULLY

2. transitive ~ sth 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. transitive to examine sth carefully in order to understand it
• ~ sth We will study the report carefully before making a decision.
• ~ how, what, etc… The group will study how the region coped with the loss of thousands of jobs.
 
Word Origin:
Middle English: shortening of Old French estudie (noun), estudier (verb), both based on Latin studium ‘zeal, painstaking application’.  
Collocations:
Education
Learning
acquire/get/lack (an) education/training/(BrE) (some) qualifications
receive/provide sb with training/tuition
develop/design/plan a curriculum/(especially BrE) course/(NAmE) program/syllabus
give/go to/attend a class/lesson/lecture/seminar
hold/run/conduct a class/seminar/workshop
sign up for/take a course/classes/lessons
School
go to/start preschool/kindergarten/nursery school
be in the first, second, etc. (NAmE) grade/(especially BrE) year (at school)
study/take/drop history/chemistry/German, etc.
(BrE) leave/finish/drop out of/ (NAmE) quit school
(NAmE) graduate high school/college
Problems at school
be the victim/target of bullying
(BrE) play truant from/ (both BrE, informal) bunk off/skive off school (= not go to school when you should)
(both especially NAmE) skip/cut class/school
(BrE) cheat in/(NAmE) cheat on an exam/a test
get/be given a detention (for doing sth)
be expelled from/be suspended from school
Work and exams
do your homework/(BrE) revision/a project on sth
work on/write/do/submit an essay/a dissertation/a thesis/an assignment/(NAmE) a paper
finish/complete your dissertation/thesis/studies/coursework
hand in/ (NAmE) turn in your homework/essay/assignment/paper
study/prepare/ (BrE) revise/ (NAmE) review/ (NAmE, informal) cram for a test/an exam
take/ (both BrE) do/sit a test/an exam
(especially BrE) mark/ (especially NAmE) grade homework/a test
(BrE) do well in/ (NAmE) do well on/ (informal, especially NAmE) ace a test/an exam
pass/fail/ (informal, especially NAmE) flunk a test/an exam/a class/a course/a subject
University
apply to/get into/go to/start college/(BrE) university
leave/graduate from law school/college/(BrE) university (with a degree in computer science)
study for/take/ (BrE) do/complete a law degree/a degree in physics
(both NAmE) major/minor in biology/philosophy
earn/receive/be awarded/get/have/hold a master's degree/a bachelor's degree/a PhD in economics 
Synonyms:
examine
analyse • review • study • discuss
These words all mean to think about, study or describe sb/sth carefully, especially in order to understand them, form an opinion of them or make a decision about them.
examine • to think about, study or describe an idea, subject or piece of work very carefully: ▪ These ideas will be examined in more detail in Chapter 10.
analyse/analyze • to examine the nature or structure of sth, especially by separating it into its parts, in order to understand or explain it: ▪ The job involves gathering and analysing data. ◊ ▪ He tried to analyse his feelings.
review • to examine sth again, especially so that you can decide if it is necessary to make changes: ▪ The government will review the situation later in the year.
study • to examine sb/sth in order to understand them or it: ▪ We will study the report carefully before making a decision.
examine or study?
You examine sth in order to understand it or to help other people understand it, for example by describing it in a book; you study sth in order to understand it yourself.
discuss • to write or talk about sth in detail, showing the different ideas and opinions about it: ▪ This topic will be discussed at greater length in the next chapter.
to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss what/how/whether…
to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss the situation/evidence
to examine/analyse/review/study/discuss sth carefully/critically/systematically/briefly  
Example Bank:
• He studied her thoughtfully, then smiled.
• He studied under Professor Sager.
• In the third year a number of areas are studied in detail.
• She is studying hard for her A levels.
• She picked up the letter and studied it carefully.
• The influence of heredity is best studied in genetically identical twins.
• This area has not been well studied.
• to study at college
• As a young composer he studied under Nadia Boulanger.
• Did you ever study any sciences?
• He sat up very late that night, studying.
• I had a place to study engineering at Leeds.
• I have two tests tomorrow, and I've barely had time to study.
• I was up late studying for my biology final.
• Michael studied at Sussex University.
• She's studying hard at the moment.
• She's studying to be an architect.

• There's nowhere for the students to study quietly.

learn

learn [learn learns learned learnt learning]   [lɜːn]    [lɜːrn]  verb (learnt, learnt   [lɜːnt]  ;   [lɜːrnt]  ) or (learned, learned)
1. transitive, intransitive to gain knowledge or skill by studying, from experience, from being taught, etc
• ~ sth to learn a language/a musical instrument/a skill
• ~ sth from sb/sth I learned a lot from my father.
• ~ sth from doing sth You can learn a great deal just from watching other players.
• ~ (about sth) She's very keen to learn about Japanese culture.
• The book is about how children learn.
• ~ to do sth He's learning to dance.
• ~ how, what, etc… He's still learning how to dance.

• Today we learnt how to use the new software.

2. intransitive, transitive to become aware of sth by hearing about it from sb else
Syn:  discover
• ~ of/about sth I learnt of her arrival from a close friend.
• ~ (that)… We were very surprised to learn (that) she had got married again.
• ~ who, what, etc… We only learned who the new teacher was a few days ago.
• ~ sth How did they react when they learned the news?

• it is learned that… It has been learned that 500 jobs are to be lost at the factory.

3. transitive ~ sth to study and repeat sth in order to be able to remember it
Syn:  memorize

• We have to learn one of Hamlet's speeches for school tomorrow.

4. intransitive, transitive to gradually change your attitudes about sth so that you behave in a different way
• ~ (from sth) I'm sure she'll learn from her mistakes.
• ~ (that)… He'll just have to learn (that) he can't always have his own way.
• ~ to do sth I soon learned not to ask too many questions.
more at know/learn/find sth to your cost at  cost  _n., you live and learn at  live¹, show sb/know/learn the ropes at  rope  _n.
Idioms: learn the hard way ▪ learn your lesson
Verb forms:

 
Word Origin:
Old English leornian ‘learn’ (in Middle English also ‘teach’), of West Germanic origin; related to German lernen, also to lore.  
Thesaurus:
learn verb
1. T, I
• Did you learn German at school?
study • • do • • memorize • • pick sth up • • know • • master • • learn/know sth by heart • • get the hang of sth • |formal acquire •
learn/pick up/know sth from sb/sth
learn/memorize/pick up/know/master/get the hang of what…
learn/study/do/pick up/know/master/acquire a language
2. I, T (not usually used in the progressive tenses)
• I learned the news from a close friend.
discover • • find out (sth) • • hear •
learn/find out/hear about sth
learn/discover/find out the facts/truth/secret/identity
be surprised/shocked/delighted/interested to learn/discover/find out/hear sth 
Vocabulary Building:
Learning
learn▪ He’s learning Spanish/to swim.
study▪ She studied chemistry for three years.
revise (BrE) (NAmE review) ▪ In this class we’ll revise/review what we did last week.
practise (BrE) (NAmE practice) ▪ If you practise speaking English, you’ll soon improve.
rehearse▪ We only had two weeks to rehearse the play.  
Example Bank:
• Children learn very quickly.
• He was eager to learn all she could teach him.
• I was surprised to learn that he was only 23.
• I've got a lot to learn, haven't I?
• She learned from watching others.
• Some people never learn, do they?
• The children learn about art by painting.
• They soon learn that bad behaviour is a sure-fire way of getting attention.
• We first learned of the problem from her school.
• You still have a lot to learn.
• learning about art
• Did you ever learn any languages?
• Everyone learns in a slightly different way.
• He learned to ride when he was about three years old.
• He'll just have to learn (that) he can't always have his own way.
• I learned of her arrival from a close friend.
• I'll need to learn how to use the new software.
• I'm sure she'll learn from her mistakes.
• I've forgotten most of what I learned at school.
• It's a bit overwhelming at first but don't worry, you'll soon learn.
• Most of the kids here are eager to learn.
• She's still quite young and she's got a lot to learn.
• She's very interested in learning more about Japanese culture.
• We have to learn one of Hamlet's speeches for school tomorrow.
• We were very surprised to learn that she had got married again.
• You can learn a great deal just from watching the other players.

• You'll have to learn your lines by next week.