| A dictionary is a wonderful resource that you will use throughout your college and professional careers. The dictionary contains much more than word meanings. A dictionary entry includes information on a word's spelling, pronunciation, part of speech, history, and special uses. Many different types of dictionaries are available, from hardcover to Internet. You should choose a dictionary that best suits your needs. Specifically, a dictionary will help you find out the following information about a word: Pronunciation: The pronunciation tells you how to say a word. For example, the pronunciation of the word "bake" is. Derivation or Etymology: The etymology of a word is its origin or history. For example, the etymology of the word "cup" is Latin. The entry for the word "cup" indicates the following Syllabification: The syllabification of a word lets you know how many syllables a word has and which syllables receive an accent. For example, if you look up the word "cuddle" the entry provides the syllabification () which indicates that the words has two syllables and that the accent is on the first syllable. Part(s) of Speech: The dictionary will let you know if the word is a verb ("v."), noun("n."), adverb ("adv."), adjective ("adj."), or other part of speech. For example, when you look up the word "cuddle" the part of speech "v." is indicated after the syllabification of the word. The part of speech "v." indicates that the word is a verb. Subject Labels: The subject label of a word indicates the field of knowledge to which the definition applies. For example, if you look up the word "chain reaction," your dictionary will also provide a definition for the word as it is used in the science of Physics. |