Encyclopedia

Pronunciation: /ɪnˌsaɪkləˈpiːdiə/

Definitions of encyclopedia

noun a book or set of books giving information on many subjects or on many aspects of one subject and typically arranged alphabetically.

Example Sentences

A1 An encyclopedia is a book that contains information on many different topics.

A2 I used an encyclopedia to research information for my school project.

B1 The encyclopedia on ancient civilizations provided detailed information on Egyptian pharaohs.

B2 The encyclopedia is a valuable resource for students studying history or science.

C1 The encyclopedia collection at the library is extensive and covers a wide range of subjects.

C2 Scholars often consult multiple encyclopedias to gather comprehensive information for their research.

Examples of encyclopedia in a Sentence

formal The encyclopedia is a valuable resource for researching historical events.

informal I found some interesting facts in the encyclopedia.

slang I never use that dusty old encyclopedia.

figurative Her mind is like an encyclopedia, full of knowledge on a wide range of topics.

Grammatical Forms of encyclopedia

• past tense: enciclopedias
• plural: encyclopedias
• comparative: more encyclopedia
• superlative: most encyclopedia
• present tense: encircles
• future tense: will encircle
• perfect tense: has encircled
• continuous tense: is encircling
• singular: encyclopedia
• positive degree: encyclopedic
• infinitive: to encircle
• gerund: encyclopeding
• participle: encycloped

Origin and Evolution of encyclopedia

First Known Use: 1549 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'encyclopedia' comes from the Greek words 'enkyklios paideia' which means 'general education'.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to refer to a comprehensive reference work covering a wide range of topics, the term 'encyclopedia' has evolved to encompass various forms of knowledge repositories, including digital and online resources.