Catalog

/ˈkætəlɒɡ/

nounBeginner🔥Very CommonRecord
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase2 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

A complete list of items, typically with descriptions, often in a book or online.

/ˈkætəlɒɡ/

nounneutralBeginner
Record

A list or record of items.

The online catalog was easy to navigate.

💡 Simply: It's like a list of things, but often with pictures and details about each thing.

👶 For kids: It's a book that shows you all the toys or things you can buy!

More Examples

2

I ordered the item from the fall catalog.

How It's Used

Retail

"The store's catalog featured a wide selection of products."

Library

"The library catalog allows users to search for books."

2

To make a catalog of; to list systematically.

/ˈkætəlɒɡ/

verbneutralIntermediate
Action

To list systematically.

The museum is currently cataloging its extensive collection of artifacts.

💡 Simply: To make a list of things in an organized way.

👶 For kids: To write down a list of things.

More Examples

2

The librarian meticulously cataloged each new book.

How It's Used

Database Management

"We need to catalog all the new items added to the database."

Tip:To 'cat'alogue is to organize and list things carefully, like a librarian organizing books.

Idioms & expressions

a catalogue of errors

A long list of mistakes.

"His presentation was nothing but a catalogue of errors."

From Middle French catalogue, from Medieval Latin catalogus, from Greek κατάλογος (katalogos) "list, register", from κατά (kata) "down" + λέγειν (legein) "to speak, to gather"

Historically, catalogs were primarily physical books; the rise of the internet significantly changed their format and access.

Memory tip

Think 'cat' - a catalog lists things in an organized way, like cats might organize their toys!

Word Origin

Original meaning

"a list or register"

Base: catalog
online catalogprinted catalogcatalog descriptioncatalog number

Common misspellings

catalogecatelogcatlogue

Usage

20%Spoken
80%Written