Get the Meaning of Words using Thesaurus |Chalk Talk PH

A thesaurus is a reference work that lists the synonyms and sometimes antonyms of words. Synonyms are words with similar meanings, and antonyms are words with opposite meanings. The word 'thesaurus' comes from Greek, and it means 'treasure,' so we can think of a thesaurus as a treasury of words that can help us better understand the meanings of those words and use them more effectively and efficiently in our writing.

The most common use of a thesaurus is to avoid word repetition, the potentially monotonous overuse of a term in writing or speech. Similarly, it is used to identify replacements for words that seem too common or dull, e.g., “see” might be replaced by “view.” The alternate vocabulary suggested by a thesaurus can be used to create texts that are more interesting because of the richer language that is used.

To illustrate how helpful this can be, consider the following example of a monotonous sentence; note how the vocabulary suggested by a thesaurus makes the subsequent revised version more interesting:

Original sentence: A thesaurus is used to find words that are interesting to use in place of other words and is used to make texts that are more interesting.

Revised with a thesaurus: A thesaurus is used to identify vocabulary that is interesting to utilize in place of other words and is employed to create texts that are more engaging.

            If you want to substitute a new word for one that you have used too much, simply look the word up in a thesaurus and find alternatives.

If you are using an online thesaurus, type your original word (or phrase) in the site’s search box. The results will include a list of alternative words with similar meanings. You will also see the word’s part(s) of speech and, in some cases, its definition and pronunciation. If the word has more than one part of speech, synonyms will be given for each of its functions. These synonyms are the alternatives that can be substituted in place of your original word or phrase.

Be careful! Sometimes the synonyms do not contain the same feeling or nuance as the original word. In order to make sure you are not using a word with a different feeling, do a "cross check" of the new word by checking its own definition to make sure it matches the feeling you want.

Whether you keep a printed copy on your desk, bookmark a website, or download an app to your smartphone, your writing will improve with frequent use of a thesaurus. In addition, you will learn new vocabulary in the process of looking up synonyms!

 

Thesaurus vs. dictionary

A thesaurus is used to group different words with the same meaning (synonyms) and similar words. On the other hand, a dictionary is meant to explain the definition of a word.

Example: looking up the word "computer"

Computer
Dictionary	Thesaurus
pronunciation: /kəmˈpyo͞odər/ part of speech: noun definition: an electronic device for storing and processing data, typically in binary form, according to instructions given to it in a variable program.	PC CPU calculator abacus laptop

                                                                         

Sources: Retrieved at https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/t/thesauru.htm

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