A dictionary is a compilation of words in one or more languages, generally in the alphabetical order. It specifies the meanings of the words, their definitions, synonyms (in some cases), etymologies, pronunciations, translations etc.
It is a very useful product for a person who is in the process of inculcating a new language. In fact, it is helpful for day-to-day life of a person who already is familiar with a particular language. Everyone needs help on some or the other word even if it is a language they already know, because of the regular updation and invention of new words, the world over.
The Oxford English Dictionary has defined a dictionary as a, “book dealing with the individual words of a language (or certain specified class of them) so as to set forth their orthography, pronunciation, signification and use, their synonyms, derivation and history, or at least some of these facts, for convenience of reference the words are arranged in some stated order, now in most languages, alphabetical and in large dictionaries the information given is illustrated by quotations from literature.” Lexicography is an art of compiling, writing and editing dictionaries. Lexicography involves classification of dictionaries, which is a very significant part of this exercise.
