Definition

1. Noun:
   • A single unit of information in a dictionary: A "dictionary entry" is the complete block of text dedicated to a specific headword or phrase, containing all the information about that word, such as its definitions, pronunciation, etymology, and usage examples.
   • The record for a word: It refers to the structured data presented for a particular lexical item within a dictionary's listing.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The dictionary entry for the word "run" is very long because it has many different meanings.
  • When you look up a new word, you should read the entire dictionary entry to understand its full usage.
  • A good dictionary entry provides clear definitions, part-of-speech labels, and example sentences.

Advanced Usage

• "To consult a dictionary entry": To look up and read the information for a specific word in a dictionary.
  • Before using the word, I consulted its dictionary entry to check the correct preposition.
• "A comprehensive dictionary entry": An entry that is very detailed and thorough.
  • The historical dictionary featured a comprehensive entry tracing the word's evolution over five centuries.

Variants and Related Words

• Entry word (n): The headword or lemma that begins a dictionary entry; the word being defined.
  • The entry word is usually printed in bold type.
• Lexical entry (n): A term often used interchangeably with "dictionary entry," especially in computational linguistics and lexicography.
  • The database stores each lexical entry with multiple fields of information.

Synonyms

• Lexicon entry: An item in the vocabulary list of a language.
• Vocabulary item: A word or phrase as a unit of the lexicon.

Related Phrases

• Main entry: The primary, most detailed entry for a word, as opposed to a run-on or subsidiary entry.
  • For the verb form, see the main entry under "calculate."
• Cross-reference entry: An entry that directs the user to look at another entry for the full information.
  • The cross-reference entry for "flammable" simply said, "See flammable."

Related Idioms

• To be a walking dictionary entry: (Informal) To know and be able to explain a word's meaning and usage in great detail, as if one were a dictionary.
  • Ask Professor Jones about that term; he's a walking dictionary entry for legal jargon.

Noun

1. the entry in a dictionary of information about a word