Dictionaries and thesauruses are reference books for words. But what's the difference between them? When do we use a dictionary and when do we use a thesaurus?
A dictionary is a list of words arranged alphabetically, and for each word you can see:
- definition: the meaning or meanings of the word, often with example sentences
- part of speech: whether the word is a noun, verb, adjective etc
- correct spelling: the exact spelling and any possible alternatives
- pronunciation: how to say the word
- etymology: the origin of the word [did it come from Latin, for example?]
Here is a simple example of a dictionary entry for the noun "dog":
dog [noun]: a domesticated, meat-eating animal that usually has a long snout, excellent sense of smell, and a barking or howling voice
When you want to know what a word means, you look in a dictionary.
A thesaurus is a list of words arranged in conceptual groups or alphabetically, and for each word you can see:
A dictionary is a resource that lists the words of a language [typically in alphabetical order] and gives their meaning. It can often provide information about pronunciation, origin, and usage. Dual language dictionaries provide an equivalent word in a different language.
An encyclopedia is a book or set of books giving information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject and typically arranged alphabetically.
Use these resources to get an overview of your topic or issue, learn the definitions of terms and concepts, and/or identify keywords to use in searching for additional information.
Dictionaries, general or subject encyclopedias, handbooks, etc. are sometimes called "Reference" books.