I don't think it is a love of learning that makes a person a nerd. I believe that deep down, everyone loves to learn. It is a part of human nature. Don't you like it when an idea finally clicks, and you have that fulfilling sense of completion? Someone who love to learn is not a nerd. Someone who loves to study is not a nerd. A nerd is someone who walks into a classroom assuming he knows more than everyone else, including the teacher. He does not hesitate to point out every stupid little inconsistency or anything that contradicts his immense prior knowledge. There are very few of these people now, (I only know two in my school) but the word has changed. Most people think of a nerd as someone who gets things quicker than everyone else, usually due to more studying, but also because they pay attention and can make connections. There are many of this type of person.