vocabulary

[ voh-kab-yuh-ler-ee ]
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noun,plural vo·cab·u·lar·ies.
  1. the stock of words used by or known to a particular people or group of persons: His French vocabulary is rather limited. The scientific vocabulary is constantly growing.

  2. a list or collection of the words or phrases of a language, technical field, etc., usually arranged in alphabetical order and defined: Study the vocabulary in the fourth chapter.

  1. the words of a language.

  2. any collection of signs or symbols constituting a means or system of nonverbal communication: vocabulary of a computer.

  3. any more or less specific group of forms characteristic of an artist, a style of art, architecture, or the like.

Origin of vocabulary

1
1525–35; <Medieval Latin vocābulārium, noun use of neuter of vocābulārius of words, equivalent to Latin vocābul(um) vocable + -ārius-ary

Other words from vocabulary

  • vo·cab·u·lar·ied, adjective

Words Nearby vocabulary

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How to use vocabulary in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for vocabulary

vocabulary

/ (vəˈkæbjʊlərɪ) /


nounplural -laries
  1. a listing, either selective or exhaustive, containing the words and phrases of a language, with meanings or translations into another language; glossary

  2. the aggregate of words in the use or comprehension of a specified person, class, profession, etc

  1. all the words contained in a language

  2. a range or system of symbols, qualities, or techniques constituting a means of communication or expression, as any of the arts or crafts: a wide vocabulary of textures and colours

Origin of vocabulary

1
C16: from Medieval Latin vocābulārium, from vocābulārius concerning words, from Latin vocābulum vocable

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012