It is a book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language (typically in alphabetical order) and gives their meaning, or the equivalent words in a different language, often also providing information about pronunciation, origin, and usage.

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What is a dictionary?

Why do we use a dictionary?

• Definition or word meaning

• Translation

• Synonyms and Antonyms

• Pronunciation

• Syllable count

• How to use word in a sentence

• Part of speech

• Origins or root

It all begins with an entry word

The entry word is the word you will be looking up in the dictionary. The words in the dictionary are in alphabetical order, so remember your ABCs!

Look for pages containing the letter your entry word begins with.

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A, R, or T?

These are words at the top of the page that help guide you. There might be one, which would indicate the first definition on the page, or two, indicating the first and last definition on the page.

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Guide words

After finding the letter, and looking at the guide words, look for the entry word in the page.

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Look for your word!

Let's get lookin'!