Irregular past tenses of verbs will be listed under the infinitive, or root, form. Using the dictionary's abbreviation section, you can find that v. If it is, it will probably be listed like this: But became might not be listed as a separate entry. For example, became is the past tense of become because it is an irregular form, it will be listed under become. As mentioned above in the section on dictionary terms, variant forms of root words are usually not listed in dictionaries, or, if they are, they are not defined. However, not all words can be found in a dictionary. Some dictionaries list nouns, verbs, and all parts of speech under one entry word while others have a separate entry for each part of speech. Your dictionary will probably give two definitions for mill as a verb, namely, "to grind or crush" and "to move in a churning, confusing, or aimless manner." In the example sentence, mill is used to mean "to move in an aimless manner." Furthermore, mill can also be a noun (with two meanings), so you must skip those noun definitions for the above sentence. For instance, in the sentence below, mill is a verb. You must choose the definition that makes sense for the way the word was used. Many words have more than one definition. Read the explanatory information of your dictionary.ĭictionaries are mainly used to find definitions. For example, it tells what abbreviations the book uses, what symbols are used, and how variant forms, such as irregular plurals or past tenses, of words are listed. Play should be listed in the dictionary, but playing and played probably won't be.Įvery good dictionary has explanatory information in the front section of the dictionary telling how that particular dictionary is organized. For example, play is a root word, but playing and played are not. Most dictionaries list only the root words. Root words are the basic forms of words with no endings added. The first guide word is the first word on that page, and the second is the last word on that page. Two guide words are printed at the top of each page to help you find the word you want. Entry words are listed alphabetically from a to z. Words defined in the dictionary are called entry words. Most libraries have an unabridged dictionary.įinally, there are special dictionaries, which list words only pertaining to a particular subject, such as math, music, or street language there is even a Scrabble-players' dictionary!ĭefinition is the meaning of a word pronunciation is its sound when spoken. Unabridged dictionaries include almost every one of the 550,000 words in the English language, giving detailed definitions, examples of how words are used, homonyms and antonyms, pictures, and other sections besides definitions. Nonetheless, to date, electronic dictionaries do not have extensive definitions. Read the information about any specific electronic dictionary in order to categorize it. Spelling dictionaries are very small and only show the correct spelling and hyphenation of words electronic dictionaries vary widely. Three other types of dictionaries are spelling dictionaries, electronic dictionaries, and unabridged dictionaries. Its definitions are easy to understand, and it is a good choice for learners of English, but most ESL dictionaries neither define many words nor give lengthy definitions. Another type of dictionary, called an ESL dictionary, is especially made for English as second language students. Many smaller paperback dictionaries that define about 75,000 words are good portable dictionaries to take to class but have short, incomplete definitions for many words a college student is likely to encounter. It will define 140,000 - 200,000 words, provide a pronunciation guide, and offer other useful sections, such as a biography or geography. A good, collegiate-level dictionary can help any college student who is already fluent in English.
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