étude

[ ey-tood, ey-tyood, ey-tood, ey-tyood; French ey-tyd ]

noun,plural é·tudes

[ey-toodz, ey-tyoodz, ey-toodz, ey-tyoodz; French ey-tyd]. /ˈeɪ tudz, ˈeɪ tyudz, eɪˈtudz, eɪˈtyudz; French eɪˈtüd/.

a musical composition, usually instrumental, intended mainly for the practice of some point of technique.
study (def. 12).

Origin of étude

From French, dating back to 1830–40; see origin at study

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use étude in a sentence

She began studying math but switched to economics at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Commercial de Carthage.
A Woman Blogger’s Scoop Helped Save Tunisia From Islamists | Thomas A. Bass | April 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Shortly before his death he brought out his complete works, including his latest "Etudes Historiques."
A History of the Nineteenth Century, Year by Year | Edwin Emerson
Timanoff replied in the affirmative, and proceeded to open Chopin's Etudes.
Music-Study in Germany | Amy Fay
More than one modern poet may be supposed to have drawn a portion of his inspiration, from the "Etudes."
Paul and Virginia | Bernardin de Saint Pierre
The success of the "Etudes de la Nature" surpassed the most sanguine expectation, even of the author.
Paul and Virginia | Bernardin de Saint Pierre

The "Etudes de la Nature" embraced a thousand different subjects, and contained some new ideas on all.
Paul and Virginia | Bernardin de Saint Pierre

British Dictionary definitions for étude

étude

/ (ˈeɪtjuːd, French etyd) /

noun

a short musical composition for a solo instrument, esp one designed as an exercise or exploiting technical virtuosity

Origin of étude

C19: from French: study

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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