dictionary

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A book or app that lists words in alphabetical order and explains their meanings, spelling, and pronunciation.

   If you want to know the meaning of a word, look it up in the dictionary.

2. 2
   noun

   A reference book about a particular subject, with entries arranged alphabetically.

   She bought a law dictionary for her studies.

3. 3
   noun

   In computing, a structure that stores values, each found by its own key.

   The program stores user settings in a dictionary.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Dictionary, recorded from the late Middle English period, ultimately derives from Latin dicere, meaning “to speak.”

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *deyḱ- Proto-Indo-European *déyḱeti Proto-Italic *deikō Medieval Latin dīcō Proto-Indo-European *-tisder. Proto-Italic *-tjō Medieval Latin -tiō Medieval Latin dictiō Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Proto-Italic *-āzios Medieval Latin -ārius Medieval Latin -ārium Medieval Latin dictiōnāriumlbor. Middle English dixionare English dictionary From Middle English dixionare, a learned borrowing from Medieval Latin dictiōnārium, from Latin dictiōnārius, from dictiō (“a speaking”), from dictus, perfect past participle of dīcō (“to speak”) + -ārium (“room, place”). By s…

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External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary