Sanakirjamääritelmät

Sanakirjamääritelmät, or dictionary definitions, are concise explanations of a word's meaning and usage. They are typically found in dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other reference materials. The primary purpose of a sanakirjamääritelmä is to inform the reader about the various senses or interpretations a word can have, along with its grammatical function and sometimes its etymology.

A well-constructed dictionary definition usually includes the word itself, its pronunciation (often indicated by phonetic transcription), its part of speech (e.g., noun, verb, adjective), and then one or more numbered definitions. Each definition aims to be clear, unambiguous, and representative of how the word is commonly used. Examples of usage, often in sentence form, may also be provided to illustrate the word in context. The order of definitions can sometimes reflect frequency of use or historical development.

The creation of sanakirjamääritelmät is a specialized field involving lexicography. Lexicographers study the usage of words in a wide variety of texts and spoken language to determine their meanings and how they evolve. This process ensures that dictionary definitions remain accurate and relevant. Different types of dictionaries, such as monolingual, bilingual, specialized, and historical dictionaries, will present definitions tailored to their specific scope and audience.