Dictionary facts for kids
A dictionary is a special book that helps you understand words. It explains what words mean and how to use them. All the words in a dictionary are listed in alphabetical order. This makes it super easy to find the word you are looking for quickly! The word "dictionary" comes from the Latin word "dictio," which means "saying."
There are many kinds of dictionaries. Some explain words in one language. Others translate words from one language to another. There are also special dictionaries for technical words or specific subjects. These are sometimes called a thesaurus. Some dictionaries are a bit like an encyclopedia. But an encyclopedia gives lots of facts about things, while a dictionary focuses on words and their meanings. An encyclopedic dictionary gives more info than a simple dictionary, but less than a full encyclopedia.
Contents
Exploring Different Types of Dictionaries
Dictionaries come in many forms, each with a special purpose. They help us learn about words in different ways.
Dictionaries for Translating Languages
Many dictionaries help you translate words between different languages. Often, one book will translate both ways. For example, half the book might translate from English to Dutch. The other half would translate from Dutch to English.
When you use a dictionary to translate, you need to be careful. A word like "right" in English has two main meanings: "correct" and the opposite of "left." Other languages will have different words for these different meanings. A good dictionary will list all the meanings of a word. This helps you pick the correct one. For example, the word "put" can be different in other languages. It might change depending on if you put something onto a table or into a cupboard.
Keeping Dictionaries Up-to-Date
Languages are always changing. Because of this, dictionaries need to be updated often. New words are added all the time. Think of all the new computer terms we use now! Also, words can change their meanings over time. For example, the words "gay" or "cool" have changed their common meanings.
The most famous English dictionary is the Oxford English Dictionary (OED). New words are always being added to the OED. Words are almost never taken out, even if people don't use them anymore. You can even use the OED online, but you usually need a subscription.
Wikimedia is the group that runs Wikipedia. They also have an online dictionary called Wiktionary. Anyone can help update Wiktionary at any time. It exists in many languages, just like Wikipedia.
Images for kids
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Langenscheidt dictionaries
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The 1612 Vocabolario degli Accademici della Crusca
See also
In Spanish: Diccionario para niños
