1. Identifying and Using the Parts of a Dictionary
The Dictionary
Identifying and Using the Parts of a Dictionary

2. Notes
Entry Words: These are the words in bold type that are being defined.
Guide Words: These show you the first and last entry words on the page. They are always at the top of the page.
Definitions: These show you each meaning of the word. Some words have more than one meaning. Choose the meaning that best fits your purpose.

3. Notes
Part of Speech: These show you how the words are used in a sentence and are usually in italics. Some words have more than one part of speech.
Pronunciation: These show you how to pronounce the word. They are in (parentheses) or /slashes/ directly after the entry word. They also show you the number of syllables in the word and which syllable is stressed.

4. Notes
Example Sentences and Phrases: These give an example of how the word in used in a sentence.
Inflected Forms: These show you the word with a suffix added like -ness, -ly, and –tion.
Pronunciation Key: This tells you how to pronounce the letters for each pronunciation. It is usually in the back of the dictionary or at the bottom of the page.