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dictionary

Pronunciation: /ˈdɪkʃ(ə)n(ə)ri/

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Definition of dictionary

noun (plural dictionaries)

  • a book that lists the words of a language in alphabetical order and gives their meaning, or that gives the equivalent words in a different language.
  • a reference book on any subject, the items of which are arranged in alphabetical order:a dictionary of quotations

Phrases

have swallowed a dictionary

informal use long and obscure words when speaking.

Origin:

early 16th century: from medieval Latin dictionarium (manuale) or dictionarius (liber) 'manual or book of words', from Latin dictio (see diction)

Spelling help

Remember that dictionary is spelled with -ar- after the n.

Spelling tip

a dictionary is an alphabetical reference book.

dictionary in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of dictionary in the US English dictionary

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