Using a Thesaurus to Find Synonyms

words that have similar meanings and can be found in a dictionary and in a thesaurus

• spelling

• antonyms

• synonyms

the function of a word or the manner in which it can be used in a sentence

• pronunciation

• thesaurus

• part of speech

the meaning of a word; usually organized by the most common one listed first

• definition

• pronunciation

• antonym

You are writing a report about a cheetah.  Which of the word reference books would help you find another word for fast?

• dictionary
• glossary
• thesaurus

A dictionary entry tells me:

• how to pronounce a word

• the part of speech

• what the word means

• all of the above

The main difference between a dictionary and a thesaurus is:

• There is no difference

• The dictionary tells me the part of speech but the thesaurus uses the word in a sentence

• The dictionary gives me the word's definition and the thesaurus gives me synonyms for that word

Look up the word icon. Which of the following is a synonym given in your dictionary?

• suitcase

• hero

• symbol

• home

Words in the dictionary are organized by:

• alphabetical order

• nouns first, then verbs

• numerical order

• The aren't organized at all

Lisa lives in a pastoral setting.

Using the definition and synonyms of pastoral in the dictionary, you know that Lisa lives in a ____________ setting.

• colorful

• city

• country

If I don't understand the definition of a word, it can help to look at:

• the part of speech

• synonyms for the word in the thesaurus

• the pronunciation of the word

• tea leaves