What is a dictionary?
A dictionary is a list of words or phrases and their definitions (what they mean).
Dictionaries are arranged in alphabetical order.
They help you to spell or understand any new words, so are a fantastic tool to use to improve your English skills.
Watch: What is alphabetical order?
Revise how alphabetical order works.
Narrator: Marty here is in charge of our animal jigsaws in the gift shop.
Chicken lady: Chicken jigsaw please!
Narrator: It would be easier if they were in alphabetical order.
Look at the first letter of each word -
then arrange them based on their position in the alphabet.
We know A comes before B and B comes before C!
See Marty - much easier.
But what if we have two words that start with the same letter?
No problem! Look at the second letter and compare their position in the alphabet.
So 'Aardvark' would come before 'Ants'!
Look at this stripey ball of fun.
Zebra Kid: Zebra jigsaw please.
Narrator: He wants a zebra jigsaw - any ideas where that would be?
That's right, it starts with a Z, so it's at the bottom of the pile!
Best get sorting again, sweetheart!
How to use a dictionary
In an English dictionary you'll find words beginning with 'a' at the front and 'z' at the back.
There are lots of words in the English language which begin with 'a' so it's not just the first letter that is important.
Words are organised alphabetically according to the following letters in a word too.
For example, ‘dog’ will come before ‘dolly’’.
The first two letters of both words are the same (‘d’ and ‘o’); however, the third letters are different (‘g’ and ‘l’).
The letter ‘g’ comes before ‘l’ in the alphabet, so you'll find ‘dog’ before ‘dolly’ in the dictionary.
Watch: Dictionaries
Learn how to use a dictionary.
NARRATOR
We use a dictionary when we come across a word and we don’t know what it means, or when we want to check how to spell it properly.
This word, for example. What does deluge mean? Let’s look in a dictionary!
A dictionary is ordered alphabetically, which means you can find any word at all.
When you find your word, you also find the definition – what it means.
“A large amount of rain that suddenly falls in an area…”
[WATER DROPLETS, SUDDEN DOWNPOUR]
NARRATOR
Simple!
Activity 1
Drag the words so they are in alphabetical order.
Activity 2
Fill in the gaps in the sentences about dictionaries.
Activity 3
Choose three of the following words and then look them up in a dictionary or online dictionary.
- neighbour
- sleigh
- obey
- complain
- unearth
- prey
For each word you need to write down:
- The word (eg. happy)
- The word type (eg. adjective)
- A definition of the word (eg. delighted, pleased or glad)
- An example of the word used in a sentence (eg. I was so happy to see my best friend.)
Karate Cats English game! game
Head to the dojo to become an expert in spelling, punctuation and grammar.
More on The alphabet and letters
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