DictionaryAI

encyclopedia

noun
Sayin-sy-kluh-PEE-dee-uh/ɪnˌsaɪ.kləˈpi(ː).di.ə/UK/ɪnˌsaɪ.kləˈpi(ː).dɪə/

Pluralencyclopedias, encyclopediae, encyclopediæ

UK spellingencyclopaedia

2 meanings of encyclopedia

Practice

  1. 1
    nouncountable
    A big book, set of books, or website with articles on many subjects, usually in order from A to Z.

    We looked up volcanoes in the encyclopedia at school.

    My grandparents still keep a whole encyclopedia on their bookshelf.

    UsageLook things up in an encyclopedia.

    Note
  2. 2
    all knowledgenoundatedcountable
    All the knowledge of the arts and sciences together, or a full summary of it or of one part of it.
    All of the Indo-European languages treated in this encyclopedia are included in the alphabetic list of families and other large groupings in the last section of this article.
    2006, B. J. Blake, “Classification of Languages”

    Similarcompendium

    Note

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Origin

From a Greek phrase meaning "all-round education", through Latin.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 1 fact

  • The word derives through Latin from a Greek phrase meaning all-round education. en.wikipedia.org