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The sense section consists of one or more definitions, each with its paragraph of illustrative quotations, arranged chronologically. Some words, especially those that have existed for centuries, have acquired many meanings. Because of this, the sense section for some entries is quite extensive. For example, the status symbol tells whether a term is obsolete, used in an irregular manner, etc. These symbols appear before the sense number or before a part of the meaning.

The status symbols used in the sense section are an obelisk or dagger, which indicates obsolete meanings, a catachrestic symbol, which indicates irregular or confused usage, and vertical parallel lines, which indicate non-naturalized or partially naturalized status though it is not usually necessary to indicate non-naturalization of individual senses.

The revised and new entries use only the dagger; irregular and non-naturalized usages are indicated in the definition text or in an etymological note. Senses, or meanings, are ordered according to a structure resembling a family tree, so that the development of one meaning from another can be plotted. The individual meanings are numbered within this structure for ease of reference.

At sense 2b in this same entry, they imply that any 'common' words in the definition could be interpreted as part of the vocabulary of baseball:. The definition shows the meaning of the word. Definitions can be descriptive or explanatory describing or explaining the meaning of a word , structural explaining a word's structure in a grammatical or syntactic sense , or can consist solely of a cross-reference to another related item within the dictionary. Some words have many different meanings, which are ordered systematically to illustrate the word's development over time.

This usage implies that the term cross-referred to is the more common or significant term:. The paragraph of illustrative quotations contains a selection of authentic examples of usage illustrating a definition. The quotations document the history of a term from its earliest recorded usage, and can be extremely helpful tools for clarifying grammatical and syntactic aspects of a definition. Quotations are selected on a number of criteria, including genre and register of typical sources, geographical spread of evidence, etc.

In almost all cases the quotations published are a selection of those available. The date of publication is placed at the head of each quotation.

For older texts, especially for those dating from before the invention of printing, this date may be a manuscript date or the date at which the text is thought to have been composed.

The author of a quotation is displayed in capitals. Further information may be found by clicking on adjacent work title. The title of the quoted text cited is displayed in italic type. The title is often presented in an abbreviated style. Further information may be found by clicking on the title. The text of a quotation is the quotation as it appears in the source cited, and is normally preceded by its location in the source chapter, page, etc.

Unless otherwise stated, the reference is typically to the source's first edition. Information on other editions used may be found in the dictionary's bibliography. A compound occurs when simple words are joined and function as a single grammatical unit e. Compounds are frequently collected together in a section or group of sections at or near the end of an entry.

They are followed by a quotation block in which examples of each compound are presented in alphabetical order of the compound. Some major compounds are entered as headwords in their own right. The noun ROCK n.

Here are how two adjacent ones are displayed. They are structured like main entries in miniature, with many of the same features and structure. Derivatives are words formed from the headword by the addition of a suffix for example, enshrined at the entry for enshrine.

These are often entered as the final section of an entry. Many derivatives are included as headwords in their own right. They are followed by a quotation block illustrating examples of usage. Derivatives, following the model of Compounds, are structured like min-main entries, but are placed at the foot of the entry in which they are nested:. Each letter of the alphabet is entered in the Dictionary as a headword in its own right. These headwords occur at the start of the range of entries beginning with the letter.

Entries for letters of the alphabet also include many initialisms and documentary evidence for their use, and explain the letter as a technical symbol and in abbreviations. Initialisms are sequences of letters representing the initial letters of the expression they stand for e. Sometimes initialisms are pronounced as words e. Abbreviations are shortened forms of longer words, which are used as words in their own right e.

In this dictionary many initialisms and acronyms are found under initial-letter entries e. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary 10th edition builds English vocabulary better than ever before and leads the way to more confident, successful communication in English.

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