/ic/ - Artwork/Critique

Genuine retard here. I genuinely do not know what I'm doing and any answer I get online seems to change depending on who gives it to me. I have been grinding fundamentals, that's simple enough. But terms get thrown around and I just get lost.
>Copy
>??
What is this? Trace? Study? Reference?
>Trace
>Trace over an image
I kind of understand this. But I don't understand the value in it. Some people have said it's good some say it's bad.
>Reference
>Look at an image, don't overlay it or trace it or parts of it broken up for your drawing. You're trying to look at it, process it, and draw it
I think this is correct but This too seems inconsistent. I've seen some people use this term when referring to essentially tracing, or using the reference as something to trace over during construction.
>Study
>??
I do not know what this is or how to do it. Is it referencing? Or is it tracing? Or is it copying? I understand it has an intent to internalize what the core aspects of your subject is, but how do you "study"? What actions do studying genuinely involve?