vocabulary

vo·cab·u·lary

noun \vō-ˈka-byə-ˌler-ē, və-\

plural vo·cab·u·lar·ies

Definition of VOCABULARY

1

: a list or collection of words or of words and phrases usually alphabetically arranged and explained or defined : lexicon

2

a : a sum or stock of words employed by a language, group, individual, or work or in a field of knowledge

b : a list or collection of terms or codes available for use (as in an indexing system)

3

: a supply of expressive techniques or devices (as of an art form)

Examples of VOCABULARY

1. the basic vocabulary of English
2. She has learned a lot of new vocabulary.
3. He has a somewhat limited vocabulary.
4. Reading helped to expand her vocabulary.
5. the vocabulary of the art world
6. The Internet has given us a whole new vocabulary.

Origin of VOCABULARY

Middle French vocabulaire, probably from Medieval Latin vocabularium, from neuter of vocabularius verbal, from Latin vocabulum

First Known Use: 1532

Related to VOCABULARY

Synonyms

argot, cant, dialect, jargon, jive, language, lingo, patois, patter, shop, shoptalk, slang, terminology

Related Words

colloquial, colloquialism, idiom, localism, parlance, pidgin, provincialism, regionalism, speech, vernacular, vernacularism; slanguage; bureaucratese, computerese, cyberspeak, educationese, governmentese, journalese, technobabble

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

Rhymes with VOCABULARY

apothecary, bicentenary, confectionary, confectionery, consigliere, constabulary, contemporary, deflationary, disciplinary, discretionary, diversionary, epistolary, exclusionary, expansionary, extemporary, extraordinary, fiduciary, hereditary, illusionary, imaginary, incendiary, inflationary, insanitary, intercalary, involuntary, itinerary, judiciary, lending library, marionberry, obituary, olallieberry, on the contrary, pecuniary, pituitary, precautionary, preliminary, presidiary, probationary, proprietary, provisionary, reactionary, subliterary, subsidiary, tercentenary, unnecessary, veterinary, voluptuary