swot

/swɔt/

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Explanation of the word "swot"

Part of Speech: Noun and Verb

Usage Instructions

• Noun: You can use "swot" to describe someone, often in a slightly teasing or negative way. Be careful, as it can sound rude if you call someone a swot directly.
• Verb: Use "swot" when you want to talk about the act of studying hard. It is more informal.

Advanced Usage

• You might hear "swot up," which means to study something carefully and thoroughly. For example: "I need to swot up on my history facts before the quiz."

Word Variants

• Swotting: The act of studying hard (e.g., "I spent the weekend swotting for my final exams.")
• Swotted: The past tense of "swot" when referring to studying (e.g., "I swotted for hours before the test.")

Different Meanings

• In British English, "swot" is commonly used, but in American English, it might not be as familiar. In some contexts, it may simply refer to someone who is studious without the negative connotation.

Synonyms

• For the noun: "bookworm," "geek," "nerd" (though these can also have negative connotations).
• For the verb: "study," "review," "cram" (the latter specifically means to study intensively in a short amount of time).

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

• Swot up on something: This means to study something in detail.
  • Example: "I need to swot up on my math formulas before the test."
• Hit the books: This is an informal way to say you are going to study hard.

Summary

In summary, "swot" can refer to a person who studies a lot or the act of studying hard.

Academic

Noun

1. an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious

Verb

1. study intensively, as before an exam
   • I had to bone up on my Latin verbs before the final exam

Synonyms

• grind
• nerd
• wonk
• dweeb
• cram
• grind away
• drum
• bone up
• get up
• mug up
• swot up
• bone