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vocabulary definition

vo·cabu·lary (vō kab′yə ler′ē)

noun pl. vocabularies -·lar′·ies

  1. a list of words and, often, phrases, abbreviations, inflectional forms, etc., usually arranged in alphabetical order and defined or otherwise identified, as in a dictionary or glossary
  2. all the words of a language
    1. all the words used by a particular person, socioeconomic group, profession, etc.
      in full active vocabulary
    2. all the words recognized and understood, although not necessarily used, by a particular person
      in full passive vocabulary
  4. an interrelated group of nonverbal symbols, signs, gestures, etc. used for communication or expression in a particular art, skill, etc.

Etymology: ML vocabularium < L vocabulum, a word: see vocable

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

vocabulary Synonyms

vocabulary

n.

wordlist, dictionary, lexicon, lexis, thesaurus, stock of words, glossary, promptorium (Latin), scientific vocabulary, literary vocabulary, word-hoard*; see also diction.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

vocabulary Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • specialize: They are unlikely to know the specialized vocabulary / terminology you use.

Adjective modifier

  • controlled: Many elements of a controlled vocabulary are effectively defined by a software implementation.

Modifies a noun

  • recognizer: The system is based on the Abbot large vocabulary speech recognizer and a probabilistic text retrieval system.

Noun used with modifier

  • namespace: GABRIELA CAMACHO GONZALEZ March 27th CV: A namespace vocabulary.
vocabulary usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

vocabulary quotes

I used to think I was poor. Then they told me I wasn't poor, I was needy. They told me it was self-defeating to think of myself as needy, I was deprived. Then they told me underprivileged was overused. I was disadvantaged. I still don't have a dime. But I have a great vocabulary.

-Feiffer,Jules

Syntax and vocabularyare overwhelming constraintsötherulesthat runus.Language isusing us to talköwe think we're using the language, but language is doing the thinking, we're its slavish agents.

-Mathews, Harry Burchell

Those who prefer their English sloppy have only themselves to thank if the advertisement writer uses his mastery of vocabularyand syntax to mislead their weak minds.

-Sayers, Dorothy L(eigh)

vocabulary quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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"vocabulary." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 4 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/vocabulary>

APA Style

vocabulary. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 4th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/vocabulary

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