Dictionaries Thesauri Encyclopedias Reference Sources

Leo Migdal

-Dec 7, 2025, 3:42 PM

dictionaries thesauri encyclopedias 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. 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.

Please keep in mind that there are more specialized dictionaries to be found in our catalog. Once there, type in your interest or field of study followed by the word "dictionary." For instance, if you are looking for a slang dictionary, type "slang dictionary" in the search box. You will then see a results list containing that type of resource. A dictionary is a book or electronic resource that lists the words of a language and explains their meaning, or gives equivalent words in a different language, usually providing information about pronunciation, origin and... A thesaurus lists words in groups of synonyms and related concepts.

Below, you'll find a wealth of dictionaries and thesauri that are either free to use, or provided via Wayne State University (using your access ID and password) to aid in your coursework, research and... 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. Encyclopedias contain full coverage of information about an area of knowledge. They can be general or can cover a specific subject, and contain alphabetically organized entries with varying detail.

These are great starting points for fact-finding, getting background topic information, learning of key events and individuals, or starting a research project. Below is a major general encyclopedia. See Best Practices on this guides Home page to pinpoint valuable subject-specific encyclopedias. Standard dictionaries give an alphabetical list of words and their definitions, but there are several useful variations also classified as dictionaries. Thesauri contain synonyms and antonyms (opposites) but usually don't define the words. There are also dialect and slang dictionaries, dictionaries of abbreviations and acronyms, dictionaries of quotations, and picture dictionaries.

Dictionaries can be unabridged (general) or can be thematically organized in some way. Call the Wilson Library front desk to get help by phone during open hours, or leave a voicemail for next-day follow-up. Use the web form to email us. We respond within 1 to 2 business days. Real people, no bots. All day and night, with help from librarians everywhere.

The library's reference sources offer a wealth of college-appropriate, authoritative information whether they are eBooks or in print format. Encyclopedias - Use encyclopedias to jump start your research with overview articles from credible sources that are packed with information and are wonderful sources for background information. Dictionaries - Use dictionaries to discover the meaning of words and find information quickly because it's arranged alphabetically. Atlases - Visual sources like maps, charts, plates, etc. give you another way to understand and communicate your topic. If your instructor has told you that you can't use encyclopedias be sure to question that limitation, because scholarly subject encyclopedias are very credible academic resources.

Think of them as books filled with scholarly articles that are like well-written research papers. 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. 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. All content © 2019 Texas Christian University. All rights reserved. Reference Sources are designed to help you find information to include in your research paper.

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Dictionaries Thesauri Encyclopedias Reference Sources

People Also Search

Why Search Here? Good For Succinct Overviews Of A Wide

A Thesaurus Is A Book That Lists Words In Groups

Bibliographies Compile Comprehensive Lists Of Resources That Share One Or

Please Keep In Mind That There Are More Specialized Dictionaries

Below, You'll Find A Wealth Of Dictionaries And Thesauri That