- 1 all the words that a person knows or uses to have a wide/limited vocabulary your active vocabulary (= the words that you use) your passive vocabulary (= the words that you understand but don’t use) Reading will increase your vocabulary. The word ‘failure’ is not in his vocabulary (= for him, failure does not exist). Synonymslanguagevocabulary terms wording terminologyThese are all terms for the words and expressions people use when they speak or write, or for a particular style of speaking or writing.language a particular style of speaking or writing:Give your instructions in everyday language. the language of the legal professionvocabulary all the words that a person knows or uses, or all the words in a particular language; the words that people use when they are talking about a particular subject:to have a wide/limited vocabulary The word has become part of advertising vocabulary.terms a way of expressing yourself or of saying something:I’ll try to explain in simple terms.wording [usually sing.] the words that are used in a piece of writing or speech, especially when they have been carefully chosen:It was the standard form of wording for a consent letter.terminology (rather formal) the set of technical words or expressions used in a particular subject; words used with particular meanings:medical terminology Scientists are constantly developing new terminologies. Literary/poetic terminology is used for talking about literature or poetry. Literary/poetic language is used for writing in a literary or poetic style.Patterns formal/informal/everyday language/vocabulary/terms business/scientific/technical/specialized language/vocabulary/terminology A word enters the language/the vocabulary. see also defining vocabulary Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebig, extensive, large, … verb + vocabularyhave, acquire, learn, … vocabulary + nounitem, word, list, … prepositionvocabulary for, vocabulary of phrasesnot in somebody’s vocabulary See full entry
- 2 all the words in a particular language When did the word ‘bungalow’ first enter the vocabulary? Synonymslanguagevocabulary terms wording terminologyThese are all terms for the words and expressions people use when they speak or write, or for a particular style of speaking or writing.language a particular style of speaking or writing:Give your instructions in everyday language. the language of the legal professionvocabulary all the words that a person knows or uses, or all the words in a particular language; the words that people use when they are talking about a particular subject:to have a wide/limited vocabulary The word has become part of advertising vocabulary.terms a way of expressing yourself or of saying something:I’ll try to explain in simple terms.wording [usually sing.] the words that are used in a piece of writing or speech, especially when they have been carefully chosen:It was the standard form of wording for a consent letter.terminology (rather formal) the set of technical words or expressions used in a particular subject; words used with particular meanings:medical terminology Scientists are constantly developing new terminologies. Literary/poetic terminology is used for talking about literature or poetry. Literary/poetic language is used for writing in a literary or poetic style.Patterns formal/informal/everyday language/vocabulary/terms business/scientific/technical/specialized language/vocabulary/terminology A word enters the language/the vocabulary. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebig, extensive, large, … verb + vocabularyhave, acquire, learn, … vocabulary + nounitem, word, list, … prepositionvocabulary for, vocabulary of phrasesnot in somebody’s vocabulary See full entry
- 3the words that people use when they are talking about a particular subject The word has become part of advertising vocabulary. Synonymslanguagevocabulary terms wording terminologyThese are all terms for the words and expressions people use when they speak or write, or for a particular style of speaking or writing.language a particular style of speaking or writing:Give your instructions in everyday language. the language of the legal professionvocabulary all the words that a person knows or uses, or all the words in a particular language; the words that people use when they are talking about a particular subject:to have a wide/limited vocabulary The word has become part of advertising vocabulary.terms a way of expressing yourself or of saying something:I’ll try to explain in simple terms.wording [usually sing.] the words that are used in a piece of writing or speech, especially when they have been carefully chosen:It was the standard form of wording for a consent letter.terminology (rather formal) the set of technical words or expressions used in a particular subject; words used with particular meanings:medical terminology Scientists are constantly developing new terminologies. Literary/poetic terminology is used for talking about literature or poetry. Literary/poetic language is used for writing in a literary or poetic style.Patterns formal/informal/everyday language/vocabulary/terms business/scientific/technical/specialized language/vocabulary/terminology A word enters the language/the vocabulary. Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivebig, extensive, large, … verb + vocabularyhave, acquire, learn, … vocabulary + nounitem, word, list, … prepositionvocabulary for, vocabulary of phrasesnot in somebody’s vocabulary See full entry
- 4(informal vocab BrE BrE//ˈvəʊkæb//; NAmE NAmE//ˈvoʊkæb//) a list of words with their meanings, especially in a book for learning a foreign language Word Originmid 16th cent. (denoting a list of words with definitions or translations): from medieval Latin vocabularius, from Latin vocabulum, from vocare ‘call’. Wordfinderwordconnotation, definition, dictionary, homonym, meaning, pronunciation, spelling, synonym, vocabulary, wordExtra examples English has a rich vocabulary and literature. Learners of languages acquire vocabulary through practice. Specialized vocabulary is used in all the major disciplines. The expression ‘think tank’ entered the vocabulary= became part of the language in the 1960s. The word ‘failure’ is not in his vocabulary. The word ‘think tank’ entered the vocabulary in the 1960s. This book has been designed to help you expand your vocabulary. Try to develop a wide vocabulary. the essential vocabulary for tourism the vocabulary of science to have a wide/limited vocabulary your active vocabulary your passive vocabulary
noun jump to other results
BrE BrE//vəˈkæbjələri//; NAmE NAmE//vəˈkæbjəleri//
[countable, uncountable] (pl. vocabularies)Check pronunciation: vocabulary
