encyclopedia
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
See also encyclopaedia
Contents |
[edit] English
[edit] Alternative spellings
- encyclopædia
- (chiefly British) encyclopaedia
[edit] Etymology
From Latin encyclopædia < Ancient Greek ἐγκύκλιος παιδεία (“‘the circle of arts and sciences", "curriculum’”) < ἐγκύκλιος (enkyklios), “‘circular, rounded, round’”) < κύκλος (kyklos), “‘circle’”) + παιδεία (paideia), “‘the rearing of a child", "education’”), from παιδίον (paidion), “‘child’”)
[edit] Pronunciation
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
encyclopedia (plural encyclopedias)
- A comprehensive reference work with articles on a range of topics.
- I only use the library for the encyclopedia, we've got most other books here.
[edit] Usage notes
The spelling encyclopedia is standard in American English, preferred in Canadian English, accepted in Australian and International English, and is also very common in British English. It is more common than encyclopeaedia, for example, in UK newspapers on Google News in 2009 by a 7:3 margin.
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Translations
comprehensive reference with articles on a range of topic
