Definition

1. Noun:
   • A machine-readable version of a standard dictionary: An "electronic dictionary" is a dictionary whose content is stored in a digital format that can be read and processed by a computer or other electronic device. It is typically organized alphabetically for easy lookup.

Usage

• An "electronic dictionary" is used for looking up words, definitions, and other linguistic information on a digital device. It is distinct from a printed book.
• It is often found as software on computers, dedicated handheld devices, or as a feature within websites and smartphone applications.

Examples

• Noun:
  • I prefer using an electronic dictionary because it's faster than flipping through pages.
  • Many students now carry an electronic dictionary instead of a heavy paper one.
  • The software includes a comprehensive electronic dictionary and thesaurus.

Advanced Usage

• As a data resource: In computational linguistics, an "electronic dictionary" can refer to the structured lexical database itself, which is used by other software for tasks like spell-checking, machine translation, or natural language processing.
  • The research team built their parser using a large electronic dictionary as the core lexicon.

Variants and Related Words

• Digital dictionary: A synonym often used interchangeably with "electronic dictionary."
• Online dictionary: A specific type of electronic dictionary accessed via the internet.
• E-dictionary: A common abbreviated form.

Synonyms

• Digital dictionary
• Computer dictionary
• Machine-readable dictionary

Notes

• The term "electronic dictionary" specifically refers to the digital version of a reference work. It should not be confused with a "dictionary" that defines electronic terms (e.g., a dictionary of electronics).
• While often portable, an "electronic dictionary" is a broader category that includes software on non-portable devices like desktop computers.

Noun

1. a machine-readable version of a standard dictionary; organized alphabetically