Pronunciation

/dɪkˈtʃəri/

Definitions

• Noun: A reference work containing words, their meanings, and often also their pronunciation, etymology, and other information. For example: “The dictionary is a fundamental tool for language learners.”
• Verb: To look up the meaning of a word in a dictionary. For example: “I had to dictionary the word to understand its correct usage.”
• Noun (collective): A collection of words or expressions, often grouped by meaning or alphabetically. For example: “The dictionary is organized by subject matter.”

Phrases

• “Consult a dictionary” suggests looking up information in a reference book.
• “The dictionary defines ‘ambivalent’ as having mixed feelings.”
• “A pocket dictionary is convenient for on-the-go use.”

Example Sentences

• Noun: “She referred to the dictionary to check the spelling of the word.”
• Verb: “Students are encouraged to dictionary unfamiliar vocabulary during reading assignments.”
• Noun (collective): “The online dictionary has a vast array of synonyms and antonyms.”

Synonyms

• Lexicon
• Glossary
• Reference work
• Terminology
• Vocabulary list
• Dictionary entry
• Dictionary lookup

Etymology

The word “dictionary” comes from the Latin “dictionarium,” which originally referred to a collection of oral definitions or a teacher’s instructions. It evolved over time to include written compilations of words and their meanings.