Pääkirjamerkintä

Pääkirjamerkintä, often translated as "main entry" or "headword," is a fundamental concept in lexicography and library science. In the context of dictionaries and encyclopedias, it refers to the primary word or term under which an article or definition is listed. This is the word you would typically look up to find information about a specific concept, word, or phrase. The pääkirjamerkintä is usually presented in a distinct format, such as being bolded or capitalized, to make it easily identifiable.

In library cataloging, the term can also refer to the main bibliographic record for a work. This record contains the most important information about the item, such as its title, author, and subject headings, and serves as the primary access point for users searching the library's collection. The goal of a clear and consistent pääkirjamerkintä is to ensure that users can efficiently and accurately locate the information they need, whether it's a definition in a dictionary or a book on a library shelf.