glossary

American  

[glos-uh-ree, glaw-suh-] / ˈglɒs ə ri, ˈglɔ sə- /

noun

plural

glossaries

1. a list of terms in a special subject, field, or area of usage, with accompanying definitions.

2. such a list at the back of a book, explaining or defining difficult or unusual words and expressions used in the text.

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glossary British  

/ ɡlɒˈsɛərɪəl, ˈɡlɒsərɪ /

noun

1. Sometimes called: gloss.  an alphabetical list of terms peculiar to a field of knowledge with definitions or explanations

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Other Word Forms

• glossarial adjective
• glossarially adverb
• glossarist noun

Etymology

Origin of glossary

1350–1400; Middle English glossarye < Latin glōssarium difficult word requiring explanation < Greek glōssárion, diminutive of glôssa tongue, language; later taken as a collection of such words, by construing suffix as Latin -ārium -ary; gloss ²

Example Sentences

If these terms prove unfamiliar, Ms. Bruni and Mr. Thompson include a helpful glossary to clarify.

From The Wall Street Journal

There’s no glossary, but the main terms are clear enough: to “send” a climb is to finish it; a “crux” is a crucial pivot point.

From Los Angeles Times

Mr. Brooke-Hitching provides no way for the reader to fact-check his assertions, but he does offer a glossary to clear up the meanings of such terms as buoyant, pseudonym and venom.

From The Wall Street Journal

A glossary of technical terms is updated regularly with new entries.

From Barron's

There’s the obvious proof: a detailed glossary, and a notes and bibliography section that runs over 30 pages.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• dictionary
• vocabulary