English for Teachers: Language Content · Chapter 11

Dictionary Skills

What to remember

A dictionary gives the spelling, pronunciation, part of speech, meaning, use and often the history of a word. Entries are arranged in alphabetical order.
Guide words at the top of each page show the first and last headword on that page. They help you find a word fast.
A good user chooses the meaning that fits the context, because many words have several meanings.

Why dictionary skills matter

A dictionary is a reference book. It is not a book to read from beginning to end; it is a book to look into. For a teacher, dictionary skill is useful in three ways: to check meaning, spelling and pronunciation for oneself; to teach pupils to be independent learners; and to design classroom tasks such as word hunts and word games. The skill includes knowing alphabetical order, using guide words, reading an entry and choosing the right meaning.

Alphabetical order

The English alphabet has 26 letters: 5 vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and 21 consonants.

Words are first arranged by their first letter. If the first letters are the same, compare the second letter. If those are the same, compare the third letter, and so on.
A shorter word comes before a longer word that begins with the same letters: "car" before "card", "act" before "action".
Example: bridge, brine, bring, brink. The first three letters "bri" are the same. The fourth letter decides: d, n, n, n. "Bridge" comes first. Then "brine" (fifth letter e), "bring" (g) and "brink" (k).
Capital letters and hyphens do not change the order. A word with an apostrophe or hyphen is placed as if the mark were not there.
Phrases and compounds are usually listed under the main word.

Guide words

At the top of each page are two guide words. The one on the left is the first headword on the page. The one on the right is the last. If your word comes between them in alphabetical order, it is on that page. Example: guide words "dolphin" and "domestic". The word "dome" lies between them, so it is on this page. The word "doll" does not, because it comes before "dolphin".

Parts of a dictionary entry

Part	What it gives	Example
Headword	The word being explained, in bold	happy
Pronunciation	Phonetic spelling in slanting lines	/ˈhæpi/
Part of speech	Label in short form	adj.
Definition	The meaning	feeling pleasure
Example sentence	The word used in context	She was happy to see us.
Inflected forms	Plural, past tense, comparative	happier, happiest
Derived words	Related words	happiness, happily
Usage label	Style or region	informal, formal
Etymology	Origin of the word	from an older language

Abbreviations in dictionaries

Abbreviation	Meaning
n.	noun
v.	verb
adj.	adjective
adv.	adverb
prep.	preposition
conj.	conjunction
pron.	pronoun
interj.	interjection
[C]	countable noun
[U]	uncountable noun
[T]	transitive verb (takes an object)
[I]	intransitive verb (takes no object)
sb / sth	somebody / something
esp.	especially

Usage labels tell the user when to use a word. "Informal" suits friendly talk. "Formal" suits official writing. "Slang" is very casual speech. "Archaic" means old and no longer used. "Dialect" means used in one region. "Offensive" means a word that may hurt.

Reading the pronunciation

The pronunciation is given in phonetic symbols. The stress mark ˈ is placed before the syllable that is spoken with most force. Example: "photograph" /ˈfəʊtəɡrɑːf/. A learner must know the symbols to use the guide. Syllables are often shown with dots or hyphens, for example "ed·u·ca·tion". A dictionary also shows where a word may be divided at the end of a line.

Many meanings and the right choice

Most common words have several meanings, numbered 1, 2, 3 and so on. The first meaning is usually the most common one. The reader must read the sentence and choose the meaning that fits. Example: "bank" can mean the side of a river or a place that keeps money. A word with many related meanings shows polysemy.

Words that sound or look alike:

Term	Meaning	Example
Homophones	Same sound, different spelling and meaning	see / sea, to / too
Homographs	Same spelling, different meaning	bat (animal) / bat (cricket)
Homonyms	Same spelling and sound, different meaning	bank, light
Synonyms	Words with similar meaning	big, large
Antonyms	Words with opposite meaning	hot, cold

Types of dictionary

Type	Use
Monolingual	Meanings given in the same language
Bilingual	Equivalents in two languages, such as English-Telugu
Learner's dictionary	Written for non-native learners; simple definitions, many examples
Pictorial	Words explained by pictures; good for young pupils
Etymological	Shows the origin and history of words
Thesaurus	A collection of synonyms and related words, not a dictionary of meanings
Subject (technical) dictionary	Terms of one field, such as science or law
Encyclopaedic	Gives wide facts about a topic as well as meanings

The dictionary of English by Samuel Johnson appeared in 1755 and was a landmark. Noah Webster published an American dictionary in 1828. The Oxford English Dictionary is a historical dictionary that records how words were used over time. Roget's Thesaurus is the best-known thesaurus. Popular learner's dictionaries are published by Oxford, Cambridge and Longman. Electronic and online dictionaries also give audio pronunciation.

Special entries

Phrasal verbs: a verb with a particle, such as "give up", "look after", "turn down". They are listed under the main verb.
Idioms: fixed expressions whose meaning is not found by joining the words, such as "a piece of cake" (very easy).
Collocations: words that go together naturally, such as "make a mistake", "do homework", "heavy rain".
Spelling variants: British and American forms, such as "colour" and "color", "centre" and "center".
Irregular forms: the dictionary shows irregular plurals (child, children) and past forms (go, went, gone).

Classroom angle

Teachers should introduce dictionaries only after pupils know the alphabet well, usually in the upper primary classes. Useful activities are alphabetical-order races, guide-word games, a "word of the day", finding three meanings of one word, and matching words with pictures. Teach pupils to guess from context first and then confirm in the dictionary. Pupils should not look up every unknown word, because this slows reading. A class dictionary corner and a personal word notebook build the habit. Always teach pupils to read the whole entry and not only the first meaning.

Exam traps

1. Guide words show the first and last headword on a page; they are not the first two words.
2. A shorter word comes first: "act" before "action".
3. A thesaurus gives synonyms; it does not mainly give definitions.
4. [C] means countable and [U] uncountable; do not reverse them.
5. [T] means the verb needs an object; [I] means it does not.
6. Homophones sound the same; homographs look the same.
7. The first meaning in an entry is not always the right one for the sentence.
8. The stress mark ˈ is placed before the stressed syllable, not after it.

One-liners

1. A dictionary lists words in alphabetical order.
2. Guide words appear at the top of a dictionary page.
3. The headword is the word being defined.
4. "n." stands for noun and "adv." for adverb.
5. [U] stands for uncountable noun.
6. A bilingual dictionary gives equivalents in two languages.
7. A thesaurus lists synonyms and related words.
8. Etymology is the study of word origin.
9. Johnson's dictionary of English was published in 1755.
10. Webster's American dictionary appeared in 1828.
11. A learner's dictionary uses simple definitions and examples.
12. Homophones are words with the same sound but different meaning.

Practice questions

Words in a dictionary are arranged in
1. order of length
2. order of meaning
3. order of difficulty
4. alphabetical order
Answer
D. alphabetical order
Dictionary entries follow alphabetical order.
The two words at the top of a dictionary page are called
1. key words
2. guide words
3. stop words
4. link words
Answer
B. guide words
Guide words show the first and last headwords on the page.
The word being explained in a dictionary entry, printed in bold, is the
1. synonym
2. guide word
3. label
4. headword
Answer
D. headword
The headword is the entry word.
In a dictionary, the abbreviation 'adv.' stands for
1. advice
2. adverb
3. adjective
4. adverbial clause
Answer
B. adverb
adv. means adverb.
The label [U] after a noun means it is
1. universal
2. unusual
3. used in the plural
4. uncountable
Answer
D. uncountable
[U] marks uncountable nouns such as advice.
The label [T] after a verb means it is
1. tentative
2. tense
3. terminal
4. transitive
Answer
D. transitive
A transitive verb takes an object.
A collection of synonyms and related words is called a
1. glossary
2. thesaurus
3. lexicon of origin
4. encyclopaedia
Answer
B. thesaurus
A thesaurus groups words of similar meaning.
A dictionary that gives equivalents in two languages is
1. pictorial
2. bilingual
3. monolingual
4. etymological
Answer
B. bilingual
A bilingual dictionary links two languages, such as English and Telugu.
A dictionary that shows the origin and history of words is
1. pictorial
2. learner's
3. bilingual
4. etymological
Answer
D. etymological
Etymology is the study of word origin.
Words with the same sound but different spelling and meaning, such as 'sea' and 'see', are
1. antonyms
2. homophones
3. homographs
4. synonyms
Answer
B. homophones
Homophones sound alike.
Which word comes first in alphabetical order?
1. bring
2. brink
3. bridge
4. brine
Answer
C. bridge
The fourth letter d comes before n.
Which word comes last in alphabetical order?
1. brink
2. bring
3. brine
4. bridge
Answer
A. brink
The fifth letter k comes after e and g.
The correct alphabetical order is
1. catch, cat, cattle, cave
2. cave, cat, catch, cattle
3. cat, cave, catch, cattle
4. cat, catch, cattle, cave
Answer
D. cat, catch, cattle, cave
Compare letter by letter: cat, catch, cattle, cave.
The dictionary guide words on a page are 'dolphin' and 'domestic'. Which word is found on that page?
1. dock
2. doll
3. dome
4. donkey
Answer
C. dome
Dome lies between dolphin and domestic; the others do not.
A dictionary shows the pronunciation of a word using
1. phonetic symbols
2. capital letters
3. Telugu letters
4. pictures
Answer
A. phonetic symbols
Phonetic symbols between slanting lines show how a word is spoken.
In /ˈhæpi/, the mark ˈ shows
1. a plural
2. a long vowel
3. a silent letter
4. the stressed syllable follows
Answer
D. the stressed syllable follows
The mark comes before the strong syllable.
A word that has several related meanings, such as 'head', shows
1. homophony
2. polysemy
3. etymology
4. synonymy
Answer
B. polysemy
Polysemy means many related meanings.
The labels 'informal', 'formal', 'slang' and 'archaic' are
1. usage labels
2. pronunciation marks
3. guide words
4. headwords
Answer
A. usage labels
Usage labels tell when a word is suitable.
A word marked 'archaic' in a dictionary is
1. used only in speech
2. a spelling variant
3. a technical term
4. no longer in common use
Answer
D. no longer in common use
Archaic words are old and out of use.
'Give up', 'look after' and 'turn down' are examples of
1. homonyms
2. compound nouns
3. phrasal verbs
4. idioms
Answer
C. phrasal verbs
They are verbs with particles.
'A piece of cake' meaning 'very easy' is an example of
1. a collocation only
2. an idiom
3. a homophone
4. a prefix
Answer
B. an idiom
Its meaning cannot be found from the words alone.
'Make a mistake' and 'heavy rain' are examples of
1. abbreviations
2. collocations
3. proverbs
4. antonyms
Answer
B. collocations
Collocations are words that go together naturally.
'Colour' and 'color' are examples of
1. homophones
2. synonyms
3. British and American spelling variants
4. antonyms
Answer
C. British and American spelling variants
The dictionary lists the variants.
The dictionary 'A Dictionary of the English Language' was compiled by
1. Samuel Johnson
2. Peter Roget
3. James Murray
4. Noah Webster
Answer
A. Samuel Johnson
Johnson's dictionary appeared in 1755.
An American dictionary was published in 1828 by
1. Samuel Johnson
2. Peter Roget
3. Thomas Macaulay
4. Noah Webster
Answer
D. Noah Webster
Noah Webster compiled it.
The best-known thesaurus was compiled by
1. Samuel Johnson
2. Peter Mark Roget
3. Charles Darwin
4. Noah Webster
Answer
B. Peter Mark Roget
Roget's Thesaurus is the well-known title.
A pupil finds the word 'bank' in a dictionary with many meanings. The best action is to
1. choose the meaning that fits the sentence
2. choose the last meaning
3. always choose the first meaning
4. skip the word
Answer
A. choose the meaning that fits the sentence
Context decides the right meaning.
A learner's dictionary is best known for
1. only ancient words
2. word origins only
3. pictures only
4. simple definitions and many examples
Answer
D. simple definitions and many examples
It is written for non-native learners.
A teacher wants pupils to find three meanings of 'light'. This activity builds
1. listening to stories
2. handwriting speed
3. use of a dictionary and awareness of polysemy
4. memory of poems
Answer
C. use of a dictionary and awareness of polysemy
Choosing between meanings is a dictionary skill.
A thesaurus is most useful when a writer wants
1. a different word with a similar meaning
2. the spelling of a name
3. the date of a word's birth
4. a map
Answer
A. a different word with a similar meaning
A thesaurus gives synonyms.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. Guide words show the first and last headword on the page. 2. Guide words are always the first two words on a page.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Guide words are the first and last headwords.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. A thesaurus is a book of synonyms. 2. A thesaurus mainly gives long definitions of words.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
A thesaurus lists related words, not long definitions.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. [C] stands for countable noun. 2. [U] stands for uncountable noun.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are correct.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. [I] marks an intransitive verb. 2. [T] marks a verb that cannot take an object.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
[T] marks a transitive verb that takes an object.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. Homographs are words that look alike but have different meanings. 2. Homophones are words that look alike but sound different.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Homophones sound alike; homographs look alike.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. The first meaning in an entry is always the correct one for a given sentence. 2. A learner should read the whole entry before choosing a meaning.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
The context decides; read the whole entry.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. A shorter word comes before a longer word that begins with the same letters. 2. A word with a hyphen is placed as if the hyphen were not there.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both rules are standard.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. A pictorial dictionary is useful for young pupils. 2. A bilingual dictionary gives meanings in one language only.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
A bilingual dictionary links two languages.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. A teacher should ask pupils to look up every unknown word before reading. 2. Pupils should try to guess the meaning from context first.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
B. 2 only
Looking up every word slows reading; guessing from context comes first.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. Etymology means study of word origin. 2. Idioms are words that always go together by chance and have no special meaning.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
Idioms have a fixed special meaning.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. A thesaurus is a type of reference book. 2. A dictionary is meant to be read from beginning to end like a story.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
A. 1 only
A dictionary is a reference book to consult.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. In the dictionary, stress marks are placed after the stressed syllable. 2. Phonetic symbols in a dictionary are given in capital letters only.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
D. Neither 1 nor 2
Stress marks come before the syllable, and the symbols are phonetic characters, not capitals.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. 'Slang' is very casual speech. 2. 'Formal' marks words suited to official writing.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are correct.
Which of the statements is/are correct? 1. Dictionary skills are best taught only after pupils know the alphabet well. 2. A word notebook helps pupils collect new words.
1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2
Answer
C. Both 1 and 2
Both are sound practice.

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1.How many vowels are there in the word "DICTIONARY"?
2.Choose the one word for: "One who is skilled in many kinds of jobs"
3.Read the passage and answer the question: "Time is often described as our most valuable resource, yet it is the one we tend to treat most carelessly. Unlike money, which can be saved, borrowed, or earned back, time moves in only one direction and cannot be recovered once spent. This irreversible quality gives time a peculiar psychological status: because it always seems to be available in the present moment, we rarely feel its scarcity until much of it has already passed. Many people postpone meaningful pursuits, spending time with loved ones, learning a new skill, pursuing a long-held ambition, on the assumption that there will always be a more convenient moment later. Philosophers and writers throughout history have warned against this tendency, arguing that a life well lived requires treating time with the same seriousness we might apply to any limited and valuable resource. This does not necessarily mean filling every moment with productivity; rest and leisure are themselves valuable uses of time. Rather, it means making deliberate choices about how time is spent rather than letting it slip away unnoticed, governed by habit, distraction, or the false comfort of assuming tomorrow will offer more opportunity than today." Question: What is the main idea of the passage?
4.Read the passage and answer the question: "Time is often described as our most valuable resource, yet it is the one we tend to treat most carelessly. Unlike money, which can be saved, borrowed, or earned back, time moves in only one direction and cannot be recovered once spent. This irreversible quality gives time a peculiar psychological status: because it always seems to be available in the present moment, we rarely feel its scarcity until much of it has already passed. Many people postpone meaningful pursuits, spending time with loved ones, learning a new skill, pursuing a long-held ambition, on the assumption that there will always be a more convenient moment later. Philosophers and writers throughout history have warned against this tendency, arguing that a life well lived requires treating time with the same seriousness we might apply to any limited and valuable resource. This does not necessarily mean filling every moment with productivity; rest and leisure are themselves valuable uses of time. Rather, it means making deliberate choices about how time is spent rather than letting it slip away unnoticed, governed by habit, distraction, or the false comfort of assuming tomorrow will offer more opportunity than today." Question: According to the passage, how does time differ from money?
5.Read the passage and answer the question: "Time is often described as our most valuable resource, yet it is the one we tend to treat most carelessly. Unlike money, which can be saved, borrowed, or earned back, time moves in only one direction and cannot be recovered once spent. This irreversible quality gives time a peculiar psychological status: because it always seems to be available in the present moment, we rarely feel its scarcity until much of it has already passed. Many people postpone meaningful pursuits, spending time with loved ones, learning a new skill, pursuing a long-held ambition, on the assumption that there will always be a more convenient moment later. Philosophers and writers throughout history have warned against this tendency, arguing that a life well lived requires treating time with the same seriousness we might apply to any limited and valuable resource. This does not necessarily mean filling every moment with productivity; rest and leisure are themselves valuable uses of time. Rather, it means making deliberate choices about how time is spent rather than letting it slip away unnoticed, governed by habit, distraction, or the false comfort of assuming tomorrow will offer more opportunity than today." Question: Why, according to the passage, do people rarely feel time's scarcity?
6.Read the passage and answer the question: "Time is often described as our most valuable resource, yet it is the one we tend to treat most carelessly. Unlike money, which can be saved, borrowed, or earned back, time moves in only one direction and cannot be recovered once spent. This irreversible quality gives time a peculiar psychological status: because it always seems to be available in the present moment, we rarely feel its scarcity until much of it has already passed. Many people postpone meaningful pursuits, spending time with loved ones, learning a new skill, pursuing a long-held ambition, on the assumption that there will always be a more convenient moment later. Philosophers and writers throughout history have warned against this tendency, arguing that a life well lived requires treating time with the same seriousness we might apply to any limited and valuable resource. This does not necessarily mean filling every moment with productivity; rest and leisure are themselves valuable uses of time. Rather, it means making deliberate choices about how time is spent rather than letting it slip away unnoticed, governed by habit, distraction, or the false comfort of assuming tomorrow will offer more opportunity than today." Question: What kinds of pursuits does the passage say people often postpone?
7.Read the passage and answer the question: "Time is often described as our most valuable resource, yet it is the one we tend to treat most carelessly. Unlike money, which can be saved, borrowed, or earned back, time moves in only one direction and cannot be recovered once spent. This irreversible quality gives time a peculiar psychological status: because it always seems to be available in the present moment, we rarely feel its scarcity until much of it has already passed. Many people postpone meaningful pursuits, spending time with loved ones, learning a new skill, pursuing a long-held ambition, on the assumption that there will always be a more convenient moment later. Philosophers and writers throughout history have warned against this tendency, arguing that a life well lived requires treating time with the same seriousness we might apply to any limited and valuable resource. This does not necessarily mean filling every moment with productivity; rest and leisure are themselves valuable uses of time. Rather, it means making deliberate choices about how time is spent rather than letting it slip away unnoticed, governed by habit, distraction, or the false comfort of assuming tomorrow will offer more opportunity than today." Question: Does the passage argue that every moment should be filled with productivity?
8.Read the passage and answer the question: "Time is often described as our most valuable resource, yet it is the one we tend to treat most carelessly. Unlike money, which can be saved, borrowed, or earned back, time moves in only one direction and cannot be recovered once spent. This irreversible quality gives time a peculiar psychological status: because it always seems to be available in the present moment, we rarely feel its scarcity until much of it has already passed. Many people postpone meaningful pursuits, spending time with loved ones, learning a new skill, pursuing a long-held ambition, on the assumption that there will always be a more convenient moment later. Philosophers and writers throughout history have warned against this tendency, arguing that a life well lived requires treating time with the same seriousness we might apply to any limited and valuable resource. This does not necessarily mean filling every moment with productivity; rest and leisure are themselves valuable uses of time. Rather, it means making deliberate choices about how time is spent rather than letting it slip away unnoticed, governed by habit, distraction, or the false comfort of assuming tomorrow will offer more opportunity than today." Question: In the context of the passage, the word "irreversible" most nearly means:
9.Read the passage and answer the question: "Time is often described as our most valuable resource, yet it is the one we tend to treat most carelessly. Unlike money, which can be saved, borrowed, or earned back, time moves in only one direction and cannot be recovered once spent. This irreversible quality gives time a peculiar psychological status: because it always seems to be available in the present moment, we rarely feel its scarcity until much of it has already passed. Many people postpone meaningful pursuits, spending time with loved ones, learning a new skill, pursuing a long-held ambition, on the assumption that there will always be a more convenient moment later. Philosophers and writers throughout history have warned against this tendency, arguing that a life well lived requires treating time with the same seriousness we might apply to any limited and valuable resource. This does not necessarily mean filling every moment with productivity; rest and leisure are themselves valuable uses of time. Rather, it means making deliberate choices about how time is spent rather than letting it slip away unnoticed, governed by habit, distraction, or the false comfort of assuming tomorrow will offer more opportunity than today." Question: In the context of the passage, the phrase "slip away unnoticed" most nearly suggests:
10.Read the passage and answer the question: "Time is often described as our most valuable resource, yet it is the one we tend to treat most carelessly. Unlike money, which can be saved, borrowed, or earned back, time moves in only one direction and cannot be recovered once spent. This irreversible quality gives time a peculiar psychological status: because it always seems to be available in the present moment, we rarely feel its scarcity until much of it has already passed. Many people postpone meaningful pursuits, spending time with loved ones, learning a new skill, pursuing a long-held ambition, on the assumption that there will always be a more convenient moment later. Philosophers and writers throughout history have warned against this tendency, arguing that a life well lived requires treating time with the same seriousness we might apply to any limited and valuable resource. This does not necessarily mean filling every moment with productivity; rest and leisure are themselves valuable uses of time. Rather, it means making deliberate choices about how time is spent rather than letting it slip away unnoticed, governed by habit, distraction, or the false comfort of assuming tomorrow will offer more opportunity than today." Question: What can be inferred about the 'false comfort' mentioned at the end of the passage?

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