dictionary

noun

A reference work listing words or names from one or more languages, usually ordered alphabetically, explaining each word's meanings or senses, oftentimes also containing information on its etymology, pronunciation, usage, semantic relations, translations, as well as other relevant information.

(by extension) A reference work on a particular subject or activity in which the entries are arranged alphabetically; an alphabetical encyclopedia.

(with of or possessive, frequently figurative, especially derogatory) The collection of words used or understood by a particular person; vocabulary.

(figurative) A person or thing regarded as a repository or compendium of information.

(preceded by the) A synchronic dictionary of a standardised language held to only contain words that are properly part of the language.

(computing) An associative array, a data structure where each value is referenced by a particular key, analogous to words and definitions in a dictionary (noun, sense 1).

Nickname for a swot or studious person, or one who uses needlessly complicated words.

verb

(transitive) To look up in a dictionary.

(transitive) To add to a dictionary.

(intransitive, rare) To compile a dictionary.

Roots

dicodict- · Latin · say

Synonyms for dictionary

lexiconn wordbookn thesaurusn vocabularyn glossaryn gazetteern gradus nomenclator terminologyn synonymyn

Synonyms & related words for dictionary

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of dictionary — including lexicon, wordbook, thesaurus, vocabulary, glossary, gazetteer. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to dictionary

Explore words related to dictionary — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include definitions, thesauri, lexicographer, phrasebook, cyclopedia, encyclopedia, synonyms, lexis. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for dictionary

Common synonyms for dictionary include lexicon, wordbook, thesaurus, vocabulary, glossary, gazetteer, gradus, nomenclator — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does dictionary come from?

The word dictionary breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root dict-, from Latin dico (“say”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.