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Dictionary Skills Unit: Key Dictionary Terms
Terms
guide words
root word
parts of speech
prefix
suffix
Definitions of Terms
The first and last entries on a dictionary’s page that guide
you or help you to find a word quickly and efficiently.
A word from which other words are made.
noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjective, preposition,
conjunction, interjection
A syllable or syllables put at the beginning of another word
to change its meaning—to make another word.
heteronyms
A syllable or syllables put at the end of another word to
change its meaning—to make another word.
Words or word pairs that share a connection of ideas and are
opposite in general meaning.
Words or word pairs that share similar meaning.
Words that sound alike but may or may not be spelled alike.
Homonyms are either homographs or homophones.
Homonyms [words] that are alike in spelling and sound but
are different in meaning.
Homonyms [words] that are alike in sound but are different
in spelling and meaning.
Words that are spelled alike and are pronounced differently.
palindrome
anagram
A word that reads the same backward and forward.
A word or words formed by the letters in other words.
antonyms
synonyms
homonyms
homographs
homophones
College Skills, Mrs. O. Nolan
Examples
Refer to the pages in your dictionary.
logic [logical – logically]
numerus [Latin] = number, numeral, numerical, numerology
jury [n.]; they [pro.]; admonish [v.]; solemnly [adv.];
intense [adj.]; with [prep.]; but [conj.]; hurrah! [int.]
one [mono-, uni-]; two [bi-, di-]; three [tri-]; four
[quad-, tetra-]; five [quint-, penta-, pent-]; six [sex-,
hex-]; seven [hept-]; eight [octo-]; nine [non-]; ten
[dec-]
-able, -ance, -en, ic, -ical, -ism, -ity, -less, -ly, -ment
wet-dry, hot-cold, alpha-omega
walked-strolled, walked-strutted
See the homographs and homophones information
below.
bat, pin, bow
breach-breech, bail-bale, bare-bear, board-bored
bass [ a fish] and bass [a male singer],
sewer [ a person who sews] and
sewer [ an underground drain]
sees, madam, deed
listen-silent