Dictionaries
ˈdɪkʃənəriz
Definitions
Books or electronic resources containing the words of a language with their definitions and other information.
ˈdɪkʃənəriz
Plural of dictionary; a book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language and gives their meanings, often with information about pronunciation, etymology, and usage.
The student used multiple dictionaries to complete her vocabulary assignment.
💡 Simply: Imagine a giant book (or a website on your phone) that explains what every word means! You can look up words you don't know, and they'll tell you the definition, how to say it, and sometimes even show you how to use the word in a sentence. They are like helpful guides to the world of words!
👶 For kids: A big book or a website that tells you what words mean.
More Examples
Libraries often have extensive collections of dictionaries in various languages.
Online dictionaries offer instant access to definitions and pronunciations.
How It's Used
"She consulted several dictionaries to find the precise meaning of the word."
"Linguists often rely on historical dictionaries to trace the evolution of language."
From Late Latin dictionarius, derived from diction- (stem of dictio, "a saying, word"). The word evolved to refer to collections of words and their meanings.
Historically, dictionaries evolved from glossaries accompanying older texts to increasingly comprehensive compilations of a language's vocabulary. Early dictionaries were often focused on specific subjects or authors.
Memory tip
Think of a shelf filled with books of definitions.
Word Origin
"related to 'dictio' meaning 'saying, word'"