Download Dictionary

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to learn meanings of unfamiliar words
to find correct spellings
to find out how to correctly use a word – as
what part of speech
to find the pronunciation for a word
to find the derivation of a word (the origins of
the word )
to find the correct spellings of derivatives
(root words with suffixes or other regular
endings )
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GUIDE WORDS
two words listed at the top of each
dictionary page that signal the words
alphabetically listed on the page
ENTRY WORDS
in boldface type, gives the spelling (and is
sometimes divided to show syllables)
PRONUNCIATION
the symbols used to show how to pronounce
the word properly (the sounds the
symbols represent is shown in the
pronunciation key ) ( when pronunciations
are labeled "for 1" or "for 2" that
pronunciation should only be used for
the definition with that number) ( when two
pronunciations for one word have an
"or" between them the pronunciations can be
used interchangeably )
DEFINITION
gives the meanings of the word. They are
stated briefly and are numbered to separate
each one.
ILLUSTRATIVE SENTENCE
( or phrase ) sentence used to demonstrate
how a word is used
LABEL
a descriptive word used to show how a word is
used ( example - OLD USE or ARCHAIC tells the
reader the word is not commonly used in today's
speech but a definition may be necessary because
the word may be used in literature )
SLANG
a label used to tell the reader that the definition is
for a nonstandard use of the entry word
IDIOM
a phrase or saying in which a special use is made of a
word example - raining cats and dogs
DERIVATION
the origin of the entry word – where the word comes
from (usually written at the end of the definition in
brackets )
ABBREVIATIONS
( of parts of speech) - identify each use of a word by its
function in a sentence
ADJ.
adjective - helps describe a noun – gives a more
exact meaning
ADV.
adverb - helps describe a verb by giving a more
exact meaning
CONJ.
conjunction - connects words, phrases or clauses
INTERJ.
interjection - independent word which expresses
strong feeling
N.
noun - name of a person, place or thing
PREP.
preposition - shows relationship between noun and some other
word in the sentence
PRON.
pronoun - used in place of noun
VB.
verb- indicates action or tells something about the subject
PL.
plural - form of a noun, adjective, or verb
which indicates that more than one person,
place, or thing is being spoken about in the
sentence
Now think of 4 words you would like to look
up in a dictionary. List the guide words at
the top of the page for each word, the
definition, an illustrative sentence, any
slang, idiom, labels, or derivations for the
word and what part of speech it is.