Decoding Dictionary | Understanding the important elements of a dictionary. | Darshana Patel Tecaher at Nananpur Primary School, Prantij, Gujarat, India

 

Decoding Dictionary 

Understanding the important elements of a dictionary

An English language skill seeker would never afford to ignore the importance of a dictionary. It is the most powerful tool in the way of learning English or any other language. The process of consulting dictionary is much deeper than what we do. It is not limited to see the desired meaning of the word, but it needs to be studied scientifically. Most of us even don’t know the core elements of a dictionary and hence, we can’t properly go through it. In this article, we are trying to learn the core aspects of a dictionary which we should be acquainted with. 

Headword

Headwords are written on the top of the entry alphabetically. They are a reference point for the information about any word. 

Pronunciation 

Phonetic symbols or a pronunciation key that helps users correctly pronounce the word. This feature aids in achieving accurate spoken communication.

Part of Speech

An indication of the grammatical category to which the word belongs (e.g., noun, verb, adjective, adverb). It helps users understand the word’s syntactic role in sentences.

Guide words

They serve as a reference point to help users quickly locate the word they are looking for within the dictionary. Typically, there are two guide words on each page or column.

Definition

Clear and concise explanations of the word’s meanings. Multiple definitions are provided if the word has multiple senses or uses.

Usage Examples

Sentences or phrases that demonstrate how the word is used in context. Usage examples help users understand the word’s practical application.

Etymology

Information about the word’s origin, history, and linguistic roots. Etymology provides insights into the word’s development over time and its connections to other languages.

Abbreviations and Symbols

Explanation of abbreviations and symbols used in the dictionary, such as part-of-speech abbreviations, pronunciation symbols, and usage markers.

List of common abbreviation used in a dictionary

1. adj. : adjective

2. adv. : adverb

3. n. : noun

4. v. : verb

5. prep. : preposition

6. pron. : pronoun

7. conj. : conjunction

8. interj.: interjection

9. pl. : plural

10. sing. : singular

11. abbr. : abbreviation

12. def. : definition

13. syn. : synonym

14. ant. : antonym

15. cf. : compare 

16. e.g. : for example 

17. etc. : et cetera 

18. i.e. : that is 

19. cf. : confer

20. lit. : literally 

21. fig. : figuratively 

22. orig. : originally

23. pronun.: pronunciation

24. ETY : etymology 

25. abbr.: abbreviation 

26. usu. : usually 

27. comp.: comparative 

28. superl.: superlative 

29. phr. : phrase

30. ex. : example

31. var. : variant 

32. obsolete: no longer in use

33. archaic: old-fashioned 

34. dialect.: dialectal 

35. Skt. : Sanskrit 

36. Fr. : French 

37. L. : Latin

Darshana Patel | Tecaher at Nananpur Primary School, Prantij, Gujarat, India