dictionary
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dictionary
A reference work in book form or as a digital application that lists the words of a language alphabetically and explains their meaning, spelling, pronunciation, and other information.
Wenn du die genaue Bedeutung eines Wortes nicht kennst, schlag es im Wörterbuch nach.
If you don't know the exact meaning of a word, look it up in the dictionary.
The word is made up of 'Wörter' (plural of 'Wort', word) and 'Buch' (book). So it is literally a 'book of words'.
Mein altes Wörterbuch aus der Schulzeit ist schon ganz zerfleddert.
My old dictionary from my school days is already completely tattered.
The most important verb used with 'Wörterbuch' (dictionary) is 'nachschlagen' (to look up). You look up a word in the dictionary to find information about it.
Ich musste das Fachwort in einem speziellen Wörterbuch nachschlagen.
I had to look up the technical term in a specialized dictionary.
When you want to state where you are looking for a word, you use the preposition 'in' with the dative: 'im Wörterbuch' (in the dictionary).
Die richtige Schreibweise findest du im Wörterbuch.
You can find the correct spelling in the dictionary.
encyclopedia
A Wörterbuch and a Lexikon are reference works that provide information in alphabetical order. A Wörterbuch explains the words of a language, such as their meaning or spelling. A Lexikon, by contrast, explains terms, names, and factual topics. For language questions, Wörterbuch is the appropriate term; for knowledge about a subject, Lexikon is the better choice.
Ich schaue im Wörterbuch nach, wie man dieses Wort schreibt.
I’m checking the dictionary to see how this word is spelled.
Für mein Referat über Vulkane lese ich im Lexikon nach.
I’m reading about volcanoes in the encyclopedia for my presentation.
