vocabulary
[voh-kab-yuh-ler-ee]
- the stock of words used by or known to a particular people or group of persons: His French vocabulary is rather limited. The scientific vocabulary is constantly growing.
- a list or collection of the words or phrases of a language, technical field, etc., usually arranged in alphabetical order and defined: Study the vocabulary in the fourth chapter.
- the words of a language.
- any collection of signs or symbols constituting a means or system of nonverbal communication: vocabulary of a computer.
- any more or less specific group of forms characteristic of an artist, a style of art, architecture, or the like.
Origin of vocabulary
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for vocabulary
Contemporary Examples
My Arabic is limited to a vocabulary of my favorite foods, such as “I love chicken and rice.”
In an uncanny way, that describes the precise definition of the hipster, when the term first appeared in the American vocabulary.
Here, the vocabulary of fast food for many young Brazilians is temaki (hand rolls) instead of burgers and fries.
Meet the Chef Fighting to Ensure That Brazilians Will Never Be as Fat as AmericansBrandon Presser
June 25, 2014
Without the freedom to act on moral values, there is not even a vocabulary for public virtue.
You have to have discipline in the words you use, in your vocabulary.
Historical Examples
But it also serves to bring us finally to the vocabulary of Esmond.
De Libris: Prose and VerseAustin Dobson
But the shock to her feelings had loosed the good woman's vocabulary.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
It was curious how the sense of evil had limited each one's vocabulary.
ThoroughbredsW. A. Fraser
Chance is a word which ought to be banished from the Christian vocabulary.
Female Scripture Biographies, Vol. IIFrancis Augustus Cox
For every man there is something in the vocabulary that would stick to him like a second skin.
The Devil's DictionaryAmbrose Bierce
vocabulary
- a listing, either selective or exhaustive, containing the words and phrases of a language, with meanings or translations into another language; glossary
- the aggregate of words in the use or comprehension of a specified person, class, profession, etc
- all the words contained in a language
- a range or system of symbols, qualities, or techniques constituting a means of communication or expression, as any of the arts or craftsa wide vocabulary of textures and colours
Word Origin
C16: from Medieval Latin vocābulārium, from vocābulārius concerning words, from Latin vocābulum vocable
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for vocabulary
n.
1530s, "list of words with explanations," from Medieval Latin vocabularium "a list of words," from Latin vocabulum "word, name, noun," from vocare "to name, call" (see voice (n.)). Meaning "range of language of a person or group" is first attested 1753.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper