Components of a dictionary entry

In a dictionary entry, what is the term for the main word being defined, which is usually printed in bold?

• The definition

• The headword

• The pronunciation guide

• The part of speech

Answer explanation

The headword is the word itself that the entry is about. It is typically the first part of the entry and is highlighted in bold to make it stand out.

Match each dictionary abbreviation to the part of speech it represents.

• adjective (a word that describes a noun)

• adj.

• adverb (a word that describes a verb or adjective)

• n.

• noun (a person, place, or thing)

• adv.

• verb (an action or state of being)

• v.

Answer explanation

Dictionaries use abbreviations to save space. 'n.' stands for noun, 'v.' for verb, 'adj.' for adjective, and 'adv.' for adverb. These tell you how the word functions in a sentence.

Which component of a dictionary entry uses special symbols like /rɪˈzɪliənt/ to show you how to say a word correctly?

• The etymology

• The definition number

• The pronunciation guide

• The example sentence

Answer explanation

The pronunciation guide uses phonetic symbols to represent the sounds of a word, helping you pronounce it correctly even if you've never heard it before.

Sort the information based on which part of a dictionary entry provides it. The categories are: Definition, Part of Speech, and Pronunciation.

Groups:

(a) Definition

,

(b) Part of Speech

,

(c) Pronunciation

• Explains what the word means

• Shows you how the word sounds when spoken

• Gives the word's meaning in context

• Tells you if a word is an action or a thing

Answer explanation

The definition explains a word's meaning. The part of speech classifies the word (e.g., noun, verb). The pronunciation guide shows how to say it.

The word 'bank' has multiple meanings. Which definition is being used in the sentence: 'We sat on the grassy bank of the river and watched the boats go by.'?

• A place to keep money

• To rely or count on something

• The land alongside a river or lake

• A tilted turn on a road or track

Answer explanation

The context clues 'grassy' and 'of the river' point to the definition of 'bank' as the edge of a body of water, not a financial institution or the act of relying on something.

A dictionary entry for 'vivid' says: 'producing powerful feelings or strong, clear images in the mind.' Which sentence uses 'vivid' correctly?

• The gray wall was very vivid.

• I had a vivid dream that I could fly.

• He gave a vivid shrug of his shoulders.

• The instructions were vivid and hard to follow.

Answer explanation

This sentence correctly uses 'vivid' to describe a dream that was clear and produced strong images, matching the provided definition. The other options use the word incorrectly.

Match each dictionary component to its primary function.

• Identifies the word being explained

• Definition

• Shows how to say the word

• Part of Speech (e.g., v.)

• Explains the meaning of the word

• Pronunciation (e.g., /wɜːrd/)

• Classifies the word's grammatical role

• Headword

Answer explanation

Each component of a dictionary entry has a specific job: the headword identifies the word, the definition explains it, the part of speech classifies it, and the pronunciation shows how it sounds.

The word 'record' can be pronounced two ways. If a dictionary shows /rɪˈkɔːrd/, with stress on the second syllable, which sentence is likely being described?

• She hoped to beat the world record.

• Please record your voice for the project.

• I bought a new vinyl record.

• He has a perfect attendance record.

Answer explanation

The pronunciation /rɪˈkɔːrd/ corresponds to the verb form of 'record,' meaning to store sound or information. The other options use the noun form, which is pronounced /ˈrek.ɔːrd/ with stress on the first syllable.

Why is it important for a dictionary to sometimes provide more than one definition for a single headword?

• To make the entry longer and more impressive.

• Because words can have different meanings in different contexts.

• To list all the possible misspellings of the word.

• Because the first definition is always the most important one.

Answer explanation

Many words in English are polysemous, meaning they have multiple meanings. A good dictionary lists these different meanings to help readers understand a word's use in various situations.

You are looking up the word 'run'. Sort these questions based on which part of the dictionary entry would provide the answer. Categories are: Definition and Part of Speech.

Groups:

(a) Definition

,

(b) Part of Speech

• Does 'run' mean to move quickly on foot?

• What does it mean to 'run' a company?

• Is 'run' being used as an action in this sentence?

• Is 'run' a noun or a verb here?

Answer explanation

Questions about a word's meaning are answered by the definition. Questions about its grammatical function (like whether it's an action/verb or a thing/noun) are answered by the part of speech.