Dictionary vs. Encyclopedia

Dictionarynoun

A reference work with a list of words from one or more languages, normally ordered alphabetically, explaining each word's meaning, and sometimes containing information on its etymology, pronunciation, usage, translations, and other data.

Dictionarynoun

(by extension) Any work that has a list of material organized alphabetically; e.g., biographical dictionary, encyclopedic dictionary.

Dictionarynoun

(computing) An associative array, a data structure where each value is referenced by a particular key, analogous to words and definitions in a physical dictionary.

Dictionaryverb

(transitive) To look up in a dictionary.

Dictionaryverb

(transitive) To add to a dictionary.

Dictionaryverb

To compile a dictionary.

Dictionaryverb

(intransitive) To appear in a dictionary.

Dictionarynoun

A book containing the words of a language, arranged alphabetically, with explanations of their meanings; a lexicon; a vocabulary; a wordbook.

Dictionarynoun

Hence, a book containing the words belonging to any system or province of knowledge, arranged alphabetically; as, a dictionary of medicine or of botany; a biographical dictionary.

Dictionarynoun

a reference book containing an alphabetical list of words with information about them

Dictionarynoun

a book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language (typically in alphabetical order) and gives their meaning, or gives the equivalent words in a different language, often also providing information about pronunciation, origin, and usage

Dictionarynoun

a reference book on a particular subject, the items of which are typically arranged in alphabetical order

Dictionarynoun

a set of words or other text strings made for use in applications such as spellcheckers

Dictionary

A dictionary is a listing of lexemes from the lexicon of one or more specific languages, often arranged alphabetically (or by radical and stroke for ideographic languages), which may include information on definitions, usage, etymologies, pronunciations, translation, etc.. It is a lexicographical reference that shows inter-relationships among the data.A broad distinction is made between general and specialized dictionaries.

Encyclopedianoun

A comprehensive reference work (often spanning several printed volumes) with articles (usually arranged in alphabetical order, or sometimes arranged by category) on a range of subjects, sometimes general, sometimes limited to a particular field.

Encyclopedianoun

(dated) The circle of arts and sciences; a comprehensive summary of knowledge, or of a branch of knowledge.

Encyclopedianoun

The circle of arts and sciences; a comprehensive summary of knowledge, or of a branch of knowledge; esp., a work in which the various branches of science or art are discussed separately, and usually in alphabetical order; a cyclopedia.

Encyclopedianoun

a reference work (often in several volumes) containing articles on various topics (often arranged in alphabetical order) dealing with the entire range of human knowledge or with some particular specialty

Encyclopedia

An encyclopedia (American English), encyclopædia, or encyclopaedia (British English) is a reference work or compendium providing summaries of knowledge either from all branches or from a particular field or discipline. Encyclopedias are divided into articles or entries that are often arranged alphabetically by article name and sometimes by thematic categories.