Definition

Noun: A book of facts is a reference book containing authoritative information on a specific subject or a range of subjects. It is a compilation designed for consultation to find factual data rather than for continuous reading.

Usage

A "book of facts" is used as a singular noun phrase. It typically refers to a specific, often well-known, reference volume. * You consult a book of facts to verify a date, statistic, or piece of information. * It is often synonymous with almanacs, encyclopedias, or specialized reference manuals.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Before writing the report, she checked the book of facts for the latest population figures.
  • The trivia champion knew the answer was correct because he had memorized it from his favorite book of facts.
  • Is that statement true, or should we look it up in a book of facts?

Advanced Usage

• The phrase can be used metaphorically to describe a person with an encyclopedic memory.
  • When it comes to baseball history, my grandfather is a walking book of facts.

Variants and Related Words

• Reference book (n): A more general term for any book, such as a dictionary, thesaurus, or encyclopedia, intended to be consulted for specific information.
• Almanac (n): A specific type of book of facts, typically published annually, containing calendars, weather forecasts, astronomical data, and statistical information.
• Encyclopedia (n): A comprehensive reference work containing articles on a wide range of subjects or on numerous aspects of a particular field.
• Compendium (n): A concise yet comprehensive collection of information on a particular subject.

Synonyms

• Reference work
• Sourcebook
• Guidebook (in some contexts)
• Manual (when dealing with procedural facts)

Related Phrases

• To be a mine of information: An idiom describing a person or book that contains a wealth of useful facts.
  • That old history text is a mine of information about the region.

Noun

1. a book to which you can refer for authoritative facts
   • he contributed articles to the basic reference work on that topic