dictionary

A book or online resource that explains words, their spellings, and often their pronunciation.

• Use a dictionary to check the spelling.
• My dictionary explains how to pronounce each word.
• Have you looked it up in a dictionary?

How to use it: look something up in a dictionary (I looked the word up in a dictionary.)

Common phrases: online dictionary, English dictionary, dictionary entry, use a dictionary

A reference book that lists information about a subject in alphabetical order.

• He bought a medical dictionary.
• The dictionary of music explains unfamiliar terms.
• Our library has several dictionaries of art and architecture.

How to use it: dictionary of something (She consulted a dictionary of legal terms.)

Similar words: reference book

Common phrases: medical dictionary, law dictionary, dictionary of something