a book, optical disc, mobile device, or online lexical resource (such as Dictionary.com) containing a selection of the words of a language, giving information about their meanings, pronunciations, etymologies, inflected forms, derived forms, etc., expressed in either the same or another language; lexicon; glossary. Print dictionaries of various sizes, ranging from small pocket dictionaries to multivolume books, usually sort entries alphabetically, as do typical CD or DVD dictionary applications, allowing one to browse through the terms in sequence. All electronic dictionaries, whether online or installed on a device, can provide immediate, direct access to a search term, its meanings, and ancillary information: an unabridged dictionary of English; a Japanese-English dictionary.
a book giving information on particular subjects or on a particular class of words, names, or facts, usually arranged alphabetically: a biographical dictionary; a dictionary of mathematics.
Computers.
a list of codes, terms, keys, etc., and their meanings, used by a computer program or system.
a list of words used by a word-processing program as the standard against which to check the spelling of text entered.
Origin of dictionary
1520–30; <Medieval Latin dictiōnārium,dictiōnārius<Late Latin dictiōn- word (see diction) + -ārium, -ārius-ary
Other new admissions to the dictionary include qayaq—an alternate spelling of kayak—and thongy.
Well, La Ti Da: Stephin Merritt’s Winning Little Words of Scrabble|David Bukszpan|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Other laws, such as the aptly named Dictionary Act, expressly do so.
Contraception Looks Like a Loser at the Supreme Court|Jay Michaelson|March 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Search for any word in the dictionary and what is the first Google Image that comes up?
The A-Z Dictionary of Google Images—For the Moment|Sarah Moroz|February 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If you look in the dictionary today, it says “naiad: any skillful female wimmer.”
The Crossword Puzzle Turns 100: The ‘King of Crossword’ on Its Strange History|Kevin Fallon|December 21, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Always know the meaning of those big words with Google Dictionary.
Surf Better With These 9 Killer Google Chrome Extensions|Brian Ries|December 11, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And now several long four-syllable words come together, and the boy with the dictionary strikes work.
Tom Brown at Rugby|Thomas Hughes
The fishes and insects were not included in this primitive nomenclature, so the loss of the Dictionary does not concern them.
Bible Romances|George W. Foote
If, for instance, I was thirsty and wanted some milk, I would look in my dictionary for “I want.”
Sporting Scenes amongst the Kaffirs of South Africa|Alfred W. Drayson
Burtons, a small tackle of two pulleys to be fastened anywhere at pleasure (Phillips' Dictionary, 1706).
The Autobiography of a Cornish Smuggler|Harry Carter
At times it would seem that, poor, tired man, he had to feed his flagging invention from a dictionary of quotations.
Irish Plays and Playwrights|Cornelius Weygandt
British Dictionary definitions for dictionary
dictionary
/ (ˈdɪkʃənərɪ, -ʃənrɪ) /
nounplural-aries
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
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 languagea German-English dictionary
(as modifier)a dictionary definition See also glossary, lexicon, thesaurus
a reference publication listing words or terms of a particular subject or activity, giving information about their meanings and other attributesa dictionary of gardening
a collection of information or examples with the entries alphabetically arrangeda dictionary of quotations
Word Origin for dictionary
C16: from Medieval Latin dictiōnārium collection of words, from Late Latin dictiō word; see diction
How Are Dictionaries Used In Court?Dictionary is an excellent resource for an essay, but not necessarily in the court of law. But why can using a regular dictionary be so problematic?
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Dictionary.com’s Printable Coloring Pages For Kids**New pages added!** Make your own Dictionary.com coloring book! It's A–Z fun, with a word and coloring page for each letter of the alphabet. Plus there's a cover sheet for your kids to label the dictionary as their own.