Parts of a Dictionary Word Entry

word forms

different forms a word may take when you add prefixes or suffixes to it

definition

explains what the word means

abbreviation

shows a shortened form of the entry word

syllabication

shows where to divide the word into syllables

guide word

words at the top of a dictionary page which help locate words

pronunciation key

a list or chart that explains the symbols used in the pronunciation

pronunciation

a special way of spelling to show how the word is pronounced.

example sentence

helps make the meaning of the entry word clearer by using it in a sentence

part of speech

identifies if the word is a noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, verb, preposition, conjunction, or article. It shows how to use the word in a sentence.

entry word

the word being defined in a dictionary; the word that is being looked up.

homographs

words that are spelled the same, but have different meanings. They may also be pronounced the same or differently.

illustration

a picture that makes the meaning of the entry word more clear.