guide word
Definition
Noun: 1. A word printed at the top of a page in a reference book: A guide word is a word, typically the first or last entry on a page, printed at the top of that page to indicate the alphabetical range of the content it contains. It helps users quickly locate the section where their target word might be found.
Usage
Guide words are used exclusively as nouns. They are a standard navigational feature in alphabetically organized reference materials. * The primary function of a guide word is to facilitate efficient searching. * You look at the guide words to see if the word you need falls between them alphabetically.
Examples
- On this dictionary page, the guide words are "guitar" and "gymnasium," so all entries between these two words are listed here.
- To find "geography," check the guide words at the top of each page until you see a pair like "general" and "geometry."
- The guide word in the top left corner shows the first entry, and the one in the top right shows the last entry on the page.
Advanced Usage
- In digital interfaces: The concept of a guide word is sometimes replicated in digital dictionaries or lists with on-screen headers or markers that indicate the current alphabetical segment.
- Specificity: In some technical or legal documents with alphabetical indices, the term guide word may be used more broadly for any prominent word used to head a section for reference.
Variants and Related Words
- Headword (n): While a headword is the main word being defined in an entry, a guide word is a navigational marker for the page. They are related but distinct concepts.
- Running head (n): This is a broader publishing term for any repeated heading at the top of a page. In a reference book, the guide words form the running head.
- Keyword (n): A significant word, but not specifically used for page navigation like a guide word.
Synonyms
- Index word
- Header word
- Catchword (an older, less common term)
Related Phrases
- To be listed between the guide words: This phrase describes the location of an entry.
- "The word 'guide' itself is listed between the guide words 'grudge' and 'guild.'"
Noun
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a word printed at the top of the page of a dictionary or other reference book to indicate the first or last item on that page
