Dictionary

Using a dictionary

*** Using an "Oxford mini" dictionary is a compulsory habit of engaged in "English Vision" programme for the betterment of your English language fluency.        

www.englishvision.tk

What is a dictionary?

1. A book that lists the words of a language in alphabetical order and gives their meaning.
2. A reference book on any subject, the items of which are arranged in alphabetical order.
3. Reference source of words in a language or discipline, arranged alphabetically. In addition to defining the words, larger dictionaries also provide information on the spellings, pronunciation, word origins (etymology), functions, and different forms of the word. So such kinds of dictionaries are usually called thesaurus too.

·        What dictionaries do I need?

             If possible, you should buy two dictionaries: a good bilingual dictionary and a good English- English dictionary. The bilingual dictionary is quicker than easier for you to understand; the English- English dictionary may give you more information about a word or phrase, and it is also a good idea for you to work in English as much as possible. Here are some current recommended English- English dictionaries:

Large dictionaries                                                                     
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

Medium – sized dictionaries                                               
Oxford Word power Dictionary

Cambridge International Dictionary of English                 
Longman Active Study Dictionary

Oxford Mini Dictionary                                                         

Collins COBUILD Essential Dictionary

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

Collins COBUILD English Dictionary

What information does a dictionary give me?

·         The meaning,

·         The pronunciation,

·         The part of speech,

·         Any special grammatical features,

·         Common collocations(word partners),

·         Example phrases or sentences,

·         Opposites( where they exist),

Note: In most English- English dictionaries for foreign learners, collections are usually shown in bold or italics, or they are included in the examples given after the definition.

                                                                     

VARIETIES OF DICTIONARIES

                    Dr. Samuel Johnson with his six assistants wrote the first major English Dictionary (with more than 40,000entries) in 1755.Johnson and his assistants worked for nine years to produce this first national dictionary.

                                                                     

TYPES OF GENERAL DICTIONARIES

                   You’re probably most familiar with college dictionaries, often called abridged dictionaries. Although abridged means “shortened” these dictionaries contain more than 150,000 entries and provide detailed definitions that are sufficient for most college students and general users. College dictionaries also contain separate lists of abbreviations, biographical and geographical names. Foreign words and phrases and tables of measures. Webster’s 2 New Riverside University Dictionary and American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language are college dictionaries.

Unabridged dictionaries contain as many as 500,000 entries and provide detailed definitions and extensive word histories (etymologies). These dictionaries, possibly in several volumes and mostly found in libraries, are excellent sources for scholarly inquiries. Unabridged dictionaries include the Oxford English Dictionaries and the Random House Dictionary of the English Language.

Dictionary Main Entries

                    A dictionary entry has many elements: multiple definitions, syllabication, preferred spelling and pronunciation (some words have more than one acceptable spelling and pronunciation), and part-of-speech labels. Some entries also include plurals and capitalized forms, synonyms, antonyms, and derivatives. Americanisms and etymologies may be provided along with usage, notes, cross-reference, and idioms. The dictionary entries for feat illustrate some of these features.

The two entries for feat indicate they are homographs-words that are spelled the same but have different etymologies and meanings. The label archaic indicates a meaning no longer in common usage.