How to use a dictionary

2. A dictionary gives you the following information about a word:
 How to spell the word
 Pronunciation
 The part of speech of a word
 Different meanings that the word has, as well
as synonyms (same meaning) and antonyms
(opposite meaning)
 A sentence or expression with the word used
correctly
 The special uses of the word

3. English – Spanish dictionary page
acrobat [‘aekrəbaet] n acróbata mf
across [ə´krɒs, Am: ə´krɑ:s] I. prep
1. (on other side of ) al otro lado de;
just ~ the street justo al otro lado
de la calle; ~ from enfrente de
2. (from one side to other ) a través
de; to walk ~ the bridge cruzar el
puente andando; to go ~ the sea to
France ir a Francia cruzando el mar
II. adv de un lado a otro; to run/
swim ~ cruzar corriendo/a nado; to
be 2m ~ tener 2 m de ancho
act [aekt] I.n 1. (action ) acto m; to
catch sb in the ~ coger a alguien
con las manos en la masa 2. (performance)
número m; to get one’s
~ together fig arreglárselas 3. (pretence)
fingimiento m 4. THEAT acto
m 5. LAW ley f II. vi 1. (take action )
actuar; to ~ for sb representar a alguien
2. (take effect ) dar resultados
3. THEAT actuar
act on vt obrar de acuerdo con
act out vt representar
act up vi inf hacer de las suyas
Meaning in
Spanish
Pronunciation.
Use phonetic
symbols
Words are
arranged in
alphabetical
order.
Example
sentences
Part of speech
Phrasal verbs
Gender. Male
or female
Meanings
according to
the context

4. English dictionary page
b)
a)
f) .
d)
e)
c)
g)
h)
__ Synonym to the headword
__ Headword / Entry
__ Word related to the headword.
__ Pronunciation of the word
__ Grammar of the word
__ Example of how to use a word
__ Detailed definition of a word
__ Part of speech

5. HEADWORDS: A headword is the word you look up and all the information
about it.
Words are arranged in alphabetical order.
American Spelling
Words with
acrobat [‘aekrəbaet] n acróbata mf
across [ə´krɒs, Am: ə´krɑ:s] I. prep
1. (on other side of ) al otro lado de;
just ~ the street justo al otro lado
de la calle; ~ from enfrente de
2. (from one side to other ) a través
de; to walk ~ the bridge cruzar el
puente andando; to go ~ the sea to
France ir a Francia cruzando el mar
II. adv de un lado a otro; to run/
swim ~ cruzar corriendo/a nado; to
be 2m ~ tener 2 m de ancho
act [aekt] I.n 1. (action ) acto m; to
catch sb in the ~ coger a alguien
con las manos en la masa 2. (performance)
número m; to get one’s
~ together fig arreglárselas 3. (pretence)
fingimiento m 4. THEAT acto
m 5. LAW ley f II. vi 1. (take action )
actuar; to ~ for sb representar a alguien
2. (take effect ) dar resultados
3. THEAT actuar
the same meaning are given
centre (US center) /’sentə(r); ‘sɛntɚ/ n
1[C] point that is equally distant from all
sides of sth; middle point or part of sth ：
the centre of a circle.
discontent /dɪskən’tent; dɪskən’tɛnt/
(also discontentment) n [U]…

6. PRONUNCIATION OF THE WORD: Uses phonetic
simbols
British English pronunciation American English
pronunciation
beauty / ‘bju:tɪ; ‘bjutɪ/ n 1[U] combination of qualities that
give pleasure to the senses (esp to the eye or ear) or to the
mind : the beauty of the sunset, of her singing, of poetry.

7. PART OF SPEECH OF A WORD:
Parts of speech are shown with abbreviations:
adj for adjectives prep for prepositions
adv for adverbs pron for pronouns
conj for conjunctions v for verbs
interj for interjections
n for nouns

8. GRAMMAR OF THE WORD:
It is shown in square brackets [ ] :
[C]: countable noun [U]: uncountable noun
method / ‘meθəd; ‘mɛθəd/ n 1 [C]
way (of doing sth) ：modern methods of
teaching arithmetic.
marrow / ‘mætəʊ; ‘mæro/ n 1 [U] soft fatty
substance that fills the hollow parts of
human and animal bones

9. GRAMMAR OF THE WORD:
[Sing]: singular [Pl]: plural
man /mɑən/ n [C ] [pl men /mən/] 1.
an adult male human. * an ambitious
man. 2. people in general ………
comparative and superlative ~es means the plural of tomato
tomato + es = tomatoes.
New /nu:/ (also not used) adj [-er /-est only] not
previously used or owned…….. tomato /təmɑ:təʊ/ n [pl ~es]
...

10. GRAMMAR OF THE WORD:
Irregular forms of verbs:
[ pt ]: past tense [ pp]: past participle
draw / drɔ: ; drɔ/ v [ pt drew /dru: ; dru/, pp drawn /drɔ:n; drɔn/ ] 1 make
(pictures or a picture of sth) with a pencil, etc.You draw beautifully. 。She
drew a house. ………
Regular forms of verbs (transitive or intransitive
play / pleI / I. n 1. no pl (recreation) juego m; foul ~ juego sucio. 2. THEAT obra f
de teatro. II. vi 1. jugar: to ~ fair jugar limpio ……………

11. MEANING(S):
There are numbers 1, 2, 3 to show different definitions of a word or vignettes. Usually there is
an example to illustrate the meaning.
Different definitions of
the word
mouse / maʊs; maus/ n [C] 1 a very small animal with fur
and a long thin tail :a house mouse 。a field mouse 。2 a
piece of equipment, connected to a computer, for moving
around the screen and entering commands without touching
the keys .
Examples to illustrate
the meaning. Usually

12. Different meanings according to the context
act [aekt] I.n 1. (action) acto m; to
catch sb in the ~ coger a alguien
con las manos en la masa 2. (performance)
número m; to get one’s
~ together fig arreglárselas 3. (pretence)
fingimiento m 4. THEATRE acto
m 5. LAW ley f II. vi 1. (take action )
actuar; to ~ for sb representar a alguien
2. (take effect ) dar resultados
3. THEATRE actuar
act on vt obrar de acuerdo con
act out vt representar
act up vi inf hacer de las suyas