vocabulary entry
B2Academic, Technical, Educational
Definition
Meaning
A single word or phrase listed in a dictionary or glossary along with its definition or explanation.
A structured unit within a lexical resource (e.g., dictionary, database, textbook word list) that presents a headword, its linguistic information (pronunciation, part of speech, etc.), and its meaning(s). Can also refer more broadly to an item in a set of terms to be learned.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Specifically refers to the formatted presentation of lexical information. In language teaching, it is often used to describe a unit of learning material.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is identical in both varieties; the term is domain-specific (lexicography/language teaching) rather than general.
Connotations
Neutral technical term.
Frequency
Equally common in UK and US academic/educational contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The vocabulary entry for [word] includes...Each vocabulary entry consists of...Find the vocabulary entry in the appendix.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific to this term.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might be used in the context of developing technical manuals or glossaries for products.
Academic
Common in linguistics, lexicography, and language teaching literature to discuss dictionary structure.
Everyday
Uncommon. Used primarily by students or teachers referring to textbook word lists.
Technical
Standard term in lexicography for the basic unit of a dictionary.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- They will vocabulary-entry the new terms in the next edition. (Rare/Non-standard)
- The team is tasked with vocabulary-entering the corpus data. (Rare/Non-standard)
American English
- The editor needs to vocabulary-entry those neologisms. (Rare/Non-standard)
- We don't have a standard verb form for this concept.
adverb
British English
- The terms were listed vocabulary-entry-wise. (Highly artificial)
American English
- N/A. Not used adverbially.
adjective
British English
- The vocabulary-entry format follows the house style guide.
- This is a vocabulary-entry exercise for the students.
American English
- She is working on vocabulary-entry design principles.
- The vocabulary-entry data is stored in an XML template.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This is a new vocabulary entry in my notebook.
- Can you find the vocabulary entry for 'apple'?
- Each vocabulary entry in our textbook has a picture and an example sentence.
- A good vocabulary entry should show you how to pronounce the word.
- The lexicographer spent an hour crafting a precise vocabulary entry for the contentious term.
- When analysing the dictionary, pay attention to the structure of a typical vocabulary entry.
- The proposed model for computational lexicography allows for dynamically generated, multi-layered vocabulary entries.
- Critics argued that the vocabulary entry's etymology section was overly succinct and failed to note the contested borrowing pathway.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a vocabulary ENTRY like an ENTRYway or door into understanding a word. You 'enter' its meaning through this structured piece of information.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER (the entry) HOLDING INFORMATION ABOUT A WORD.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating 'entry' as 'вход' (entrance). The correct equivalent is 'словарная статья' or, for a learning list, 'представление слова/термина'.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'vocablary entry' or 'vocab entry'. Using it interchangeably with 'vocabulary word' (the word itself vs. its presentation in a resource).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary component of a standard vocabulary entry?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in the context of a dictionary, they are synonymous. 'Vocabulary entry' can have a slightly broader use, applying to glossary or textbook lists as well.
Yes. A vocabulary entry can have a multi-word headword, such as 'phrasal verb', 'idiom', or 'compound noun' (e.g., 'traffic light').
A detailed entry includes: headword, pronunciation (IPA), part of speech, inflections, definitions, example sentences, collocations, register labels, etymology, and sometimes synonyms/antonyms.
Encourage a consistent structure: word, pronunciation, part of speech, L1 translation or simple L2 definition, and a personal, original example sentence. Adding a collocation or drawing can also aid memory.