Category: Words
A dictionary is a reference source containing an alphabetical list of words, with information given for each word, usually including definition, pronunciation and etymology. It may also provide additional information such as usage notes, synonyms and antonyms, and examples of the word’s use in context. Dictionary entries can also include illustrations or photos. Dictionaries are used to improve one’s understanding of the language by providing accurate definitions and explanations of words; they can also be used to learn new words or to look up unfamiliar ones. They help improve reading comprehension by providing a greater understanding of unfamiliar words in the text. Dictionaries are also useful for cross-referencing related terms and finding synonyms or antonyms for a particular word. A dictionary is usually written in one specific language (for example English), though there are bilingual dictionaries that contain entries in two different languages (e.g., English-Spanish). A general dictionary will contain a variety of different types of words such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and phrases; specialized dictionaries focus on specific subject areas such as medicine or law. Dictionaries may be printed on paper or online versions may be available on search engines such as Google. Printed dictionaries often include illustrations, photos and other visual aids that help explain the meaning of words; online versions may include audio recordings to demonstrate pronunciation or videos to show usage examples in context. Additionally, some online dictionaries offer interactive tools such as quizzes to test knowledge or games to make learning fun.