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What is the difference between encyclopedia and thesaurus?

encyclopedia | thesaurus |

As nouns the difference between encyclopedia and thesaurus

is that encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference work (often spanning several printed volumes) with in-depth articles (usually arranged in alphabetical order, or sometimes arranged by category) on a range of subjects, sometimes general, sometimes limited to a particular field while thesaurus is a publication, usually in the form of a book, that provides synonyms (and sometimes antonyms) for the words of a given language.

encyclopedia

English

(wikipedia encyclopedia)

Alternative forms

* (chiefly British) encyclopaedia * (obsolete)

Noun

  • A comprehensive reference work (often spanning several printed volumes) with in-depth articles (usually arranged in alphabetical order, or sometimes arranged by category) on a range of subjects, sometimes general, sometimes limited to a particular field.
    • I only use the library for the encyclopedia , as we’ve got most other books here.
    His life's work was a four-volume encyclopedia of aviation topics.
  • (dated) The circle of arts and sciences; a comprehensive summary of knowledge, or of a branch of knowledge.
    • (Webster 1913)

    Usage notes

    The spelling encyclopedia'' is standard in American English, preferred in Canadian English, accepted in Australian and International English, and also very common in British English. It is more common than ''encyclopaedia , for example, in UK newspapers on Google News in 2009 by a 7:3 margin.

    Derived terms

    * -pedia

    Related terms

    * encyclopedical * encyclopedic * encyclopedic fiction * encyclopedist * encyclopedic dictionary

    See also

    * dictionary

    thesaurus

    English

    (wikipedia thesaurus)

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • A publication, usually in the form of a book, that provides synonyms (and sometimes antonyms) for the words of a given language.
    • "Roget" is the leading brand name for a print English thesaurus'' that lists words under general concepts rather than just close synonyms.
  • (archaic) A dictionary or encyclopedia.
  • (information science) A hierarchy of subject headings—canonic titles of themes and topics, the titles serving as search keys.

    • Synonyms

    * synonymicon

    Derived terms

    * thesaural

    See also

    * ontology * *

    External links

    * * * Roget's Thesaurus can be found at: http://www.bartleby.com/thesauri ----