Dictionaries Thesauri And Encyclopedias Quick Reference Sources

Leo Migdal

-Dec 7, 2025, 10:28 PM

dictionaries thesauri and encyclopedias quick reference sources

Why search here? Good for succinct overviews of a wide variety of subjects and topics, provided through reference articles drawn from encyclopedias and other reference sources. What's Included? Encyclopedia articles, biographical information, dictionary entries, videos, images. A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information. An encyclopedia is a type of reference work a compendium holding a summary of information from either all branches of knowledge or a particular branch of knowledge.

A thesaurus is a book that lists words in groups of synonyms and related concepts. Just starting to research your topic? These databases contain different types of encyclopedias and reference books. These are excellent starting points. Most include formatted citations! Links to additional specialized encyclopedias and quick reference resources can be found on corresponding Research Subject Guides.

Examples: Religion, Art, etc. Links to additional specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias can be found on corresponding Research Subject Guides. Examples: Religion, Art, etc. Additional thesauri in print are listed in the Library Catalog. User instructions available on ProQuest's LibGuide. This page contains definitions of and examples of different types of reference sources including almanacs, atlases, bibliographies, biographies, chronologies, dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, handbooks, and indexes.

Almanacs are not usually used for extensive research , but are good for looking up specific facts, statistics, tables and lists about people, places, events, countries, organizations, zip codes, and popular culture such as... Generally, almanacs cover a broad period of time, while Yearbooks, which contain similar information, only cover a given year. Atlases contain an organized group of pictorial or illustrated political, cultural, physical, road, and/or thematic maps. Atlases may be organized around a specific subject, theme, or geographic area. Bibliographies compile comprehensive lists of resources that share one or more common attributes about a particular subject, person, geographical area, etc. Some bibliographies also briefly describe the resources that are listed.

One should consult a bibliography when they want citations that will guide them to specific resources. Biographies contain information about people, both living and deceased - they can contain brief summaries of data about individuals, contain lists of citations of resources about a person, or be full length books detailing... Biographies may cover general important figures, or may be organized thematically/geographically, etc. One would use a biography to look up facts or detailed information about a person or group of people. Below are some starting points for dictionaries. Dictionaries for languages other than English and discipline-specific dictionaries can be found on our subject guides.

You can locate dictionaries for specific languages or subjects by using the advanced search in the Library Catalog. For language dictionaries, enter the subject terms "[language] languages dictionaries". For example: For subject dictionaries, enter "dictionaries" as a subject term with additional keywords such as a discipline, era or event, occupation, etc. Reference sources are books and online information that provide summaries, definitions of terms, quick facts, data, and bibliographies. They are a perfect place to start when you need an overview of a topic or are required to cite a definition of a term.

Many reference materials have moved from print format to digitized databases since the information in them can rapidly change. In a nutshell, start with a reference source when you need a quick easy look-up of factual information. --> A note on Wikipedia: While Wikipedia can be a fountain of excellent information, it remains an open-source encyclopedia that is not necessarily vetted for accuracy in every article. Use Wikipedia to get some good background information, collect terminology and important names, and seek out the works cited at the end of the entry. Access all Oxford's dictionaries, companions, and encyclopedias in one place. Oxford Reference is a multi-disciplinary database that features a range of short entries, timelines, quotations, and lengthy in-depth reference articles on all topics.

Browse by subject or enter a keyword in the search box. We can help with your research questions -- contact us by chat, phone, email, text or at a Research Help desk. The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression,... Retaliation is also prohibited by university policy. The following persons have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies and are the Title IX coordinators for their respective campuses: Director of the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, civilrights@ku.edu,... The University of Kansas is a public institution governed by the Kansas Board of Regents.

General encyclopedia containing over 25,000 entries. Included are images and brief biographies. Use reference collections to search multiple reference sources at once. Look up the meaning of words in this updated, online version of the Oxford English Dictionary. It's particularly useful when researching the etymology of a word. (Oxford)

Encyclopedia articles written by professional writers to give concise and accurate overviews of a wide range of topics, people, places, and things. Encyclopedias are a great starting point for research. They can provide you with: Encyclopedia articles written by professional writers to give concise and accurate overviews of a wide range of topics, people, places, and things. Our mission is organizing and providing access to quality information resources that inspire curiosity, creativity, and innovation throughout the TCU community, while offering exceptional service and surroundings that nurture our students. TCU Library's core values and strategies.

Dictionaries Thesauri And Encyclopedias Quick Reference Sources

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Why Search Here? Good For Succinct Overviews Of A Wide

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One Should Consult A Bibliography When They Want Citations That