dictionary

[ dik-shuh-ner-ee ]

noun

, plural dic·tion·ar·ies.

1. a book or digital resource (such as Dictionary.com) containing a selection of words and information about their meanings, pronunciations, etymologies, inflected forms, derived forms, etc., in either the same or another language; lexicon; glossary:

   an unabridged dictionary of English;

   a Japanese–English dictionary.

2. a book or digital resource giving information on a particular subject or on a particular class of words, names, or facts, usually arranged alphabetically:

   a biographical dictionary;

   a dictionary of mathematics.

3. Computers.
   1. a list of codes, terms, keys, etc., and their meanings, used by a computer program or system.
   2. a selection of words used by a piece of software, such as a word-processing program, to check the spelling of text entered.

dictionary

/ ˈdɪkʃənərɪ; -ʃənrɪ /

noun

1. 1. a reference resource, in printed or electronic form, that consists of an alphabetical list of words with their meanings and parts of speech, and often a guide to accepted pronunciation and syllabification, irregular inflections of words, derived words of different parts of speech, and etymologies
   2. a similar reference work giving equivalent words in two or more languages. Such dictionaries often consist of two or more parts, in each of which the alphabetical list is given in a different language

      a German-English dictionary

   3. ( as modifier ) See also glossary lexicon thesaurus

      a dictionary definition

2. a reference publication listing words or terms of a particular subject or activity, giving information about their meanings and other attributes

   a dictionary of gardening

3. a collection of information or examples with the entries alphabetically arranged

   a dictionary of quotations

Word History and Origins

Origin of dictionary¹

First recorded in 1570–80; from Medieval Latin dictiōnārium, dictiōnārius, from Late Latin dictiōn- stem of dictiō “word” + -ārium, -ārius adjective and noun suffix; diction ( def ), -ary ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of dictionary¹

C16: from Medieval Latin dictiōnārium collection of words, from Late Latin dictiō word; see diction

Example Sentences

"The reference genome was like a dictionary when we announced it," Ma said.

From Science Daily

Forty years after they began the task – and nearly four hundred years after receiving their first commission – sages in Paris have finally produced a new edition of the definitive French dictionary.

From BBC

“To me, the most beautiful word in the dictionary is tariff,” the president-elect said last month.

From Los Angeles Times

"Tariff is the most beautiful world in the dictionary," he said.

From BBC

I’m staggered at the stupidity of people who bandy around dangerous words without having looked them up in the dictionary.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• glossary
• language
• vocabulary