Dewey Decimal System
/ (ˈdjuːɪ) /
noun
a frequently used system of library book classification and arrangement with ten main subject classesAlso called: decimal classification Abbreviation: DDS
Word Origin for Dewey Decimal System
C19: named after Melvil Dewey (1851–1931), US educator who invented the system
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Word Origin and History for dewey decimal system
Dewey Decimal system
proposed 1876 by Melvil Dewey (1851-1931) while acting librarian of Amherst College. He also crusaded for simplified spelling and the metric system.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Culture definitions for dewey decimal system
Dewey decimal system
A system used in libraries for the classification of books and other publications. It uses the numbers 000 to 999 to cover the general fields of knowledge and subdivides each field by the use of decimals and letters. Named after its inventor, Melvil Dewey.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
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