legal dictionary
B1formal to neutral
Definition
Meaning
a reference book or electronic resource containing an alphabetical list of words, with information about their meanings, pronunciations, etymologies, and usage
a comprehensive reference work explaining terms of a specific subject; the lexicon of a person, language, or branch of knowledge; metaphorically, a person regarded as very knowledgeable
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
As a generic term for a word reference, 'dictionary' is common in all registers. In computing, it refers to an associative array or hash data structure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling: 'encyclopaedia' (UK) vs. 'encyclopedia' (US) as a related term. Pronunciation differs (see IPA). Terminology: In UK academic contexts, 'lexicon' is more frequent for the vocabulary of a language; in US contexts, 'dictionary' is used more broadly for subject-specific compilations (e.g., 'medical dictionary').
Connotations
UK: Strong association with authority (e.g., Oxford English Dictionary). US: Slightly more casual connotations, e.g., 'urban dictionary'.
Frequency
Comparable frequency, though UK speakers may use 'look it up' more frequently than 'check the dictionary' compared to US speakers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
consult [OBJECT: a dictionary]look [PREP: up] [OBJECT: a word] in a dictionary[SUBJECT: A dictionary] lists [OBJECT: words]be described as [PREP: the] dictionary of [TOPIC]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a walking dictionary”
- “not in the dictionary”
- “by the dictionary”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to data dictionaries, which define data structures and formats.
Academic
Central to lexicography, linguistics, and language studies.
Everyday
Commonly used for language learning and settling spelling/meaning disputes.
Technical
In programming, a key-value data structure (Python dict, JSON object).
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- The dictionary form of the verb is the infinitive.
- She gave a dictionary definition of the term.
American English
- We need the dictionary entry for this word.
- His knowledge was almost dictionary-perfect.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I use a dictionary to learn new English words.
- Is this word in the dictionary?
- You should look up the pronunciation in a good dictionary.
- He bought a bilingual dictionary for his French class.
- The dictionary's etymologies reveal the fascinating history of the word 'quarantine'.
- Lexicographers are currently revising the entry for 'post-truth'.
- The poet is often described as the living dictionary of the regional dialect.
- The API returns the data in a structured dictionary format.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
DICT means 'say' (from Latin 'dicere'). A dictionary 'says' what words mean.
Conceptual Metaphor
KNOWLEDGE IS A BOOK; AUTHORITY IS A REFERENCE WORK.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'dictionary' for a single 'word' (слово).
- The Russian 'словарь' also means 'vocabulary' (the collective words known), whereas English 'dictionary' is primarily the reference book.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'dictionary' as a verb (incorrect: 'I will dictionary this word').
- Confusing 'dictionary' with 'encyclopedia' (which contains articles on subjects, not just word definitions).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'data dictionary' primarily used for in computing?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A dictionary provides definitions, pronunciations, and etymologies. A thesaurus lists synonyms and antonyms, often grouped by meaning.
No. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia. It contains articles on topics, events, and people, not primarily alphabetical lists of words with linguistic information.
A descriptive dictionary records how language is actually used by speakers. A prescriptive dictionary aims to dictate rules for 'correct' usage.
Yes, though not extremely common. It means 'of, or characteristic of, a dictionary' (e.g., 'dictionary definition', 'dictionary form').