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| dic·tion·ar·y [ díkshə nèrree ] (plural dic·tion·ar·ies) |
noun |
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| Definition: |
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1. book of word meanings: a reference book that contains alphabetically ordered words, with explanations of their meanings, often with information about grammar, pronunciation, and etymology
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2. foreign-language reference book of words: a reference book that alphabetically arranges and translates words and phrases in two or more languages
 a Spanish-English dictionary
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3. specialized reference book: a reference book that alphabetizes and explains terms relating to a subject or topic
 a dictionary of music
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4. list of information: a book that lists examples or information arranged alphabetically or in some other way, e.g. by author
 a dictionary of quotations
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5. comput word-processing reference: a file used as a reference by a word-processing program for correct spelling and hyphenation
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6. comput alphabetical list of computer codes: an alphabetized list of keys or code names used in a program, each briefly defined
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| [Early 16th century. < medieval Latin dictionarius "of words" < Latin diction- (see diction)] |