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

/ -ʃənrɪ; ˈdɪkʃənərɪ /

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 definition of “innuendo,” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, is “an oblique allusion.”

From The Daily Beast

In fact, my Random House Dictionary goes so far as to define it.

From The Daily Beast

Other new admissions to the dictionary include qayaq—an alternate spelling of kayak—and thongy.

From The Daily Beast

“It is a virtual dictionary of the cityscape of Los Angeles,” Tarsia says.

From The Daily Beast

Navigating this brave new world is the inventively-named Anana, an employee at a soon to be obsolete print dictionary.

From The Daily Beast

He prepared a glossary of provincial and archological words, intended for a supplement to Johnson's Dictionary.

From Project Gutenberg

And when they came to the next story the Boy took pleasure in doing his own hunting in the dictionary.

From Project Gutenberg

The Dictionary we have compiled will tell the amateur what names will most probably supply the qualities he desires.

From Project Gutenberg

A big dictionary placed in an armchair, raised little Henrietta to the proper height at the Norwood dinner table.

From Project Gutenberg

Well, suppose you are allowed one, and you choose a French dictionary, and try to learn it off by heart before you come out.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• glossary
• language
• vocabulary