textbook

Pluraltextbooks

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A book used in schools or colleges to teach one subject.

   Like a recipe book, but it teaches a school subject step by step instead of cooking.

   The teacher handed out a new math textbook to each student.

   She left her history textbook on the bus this morning.

   Similarcoursebook, manual, handbook, primer

   Note
2. 2
   adjectivefiguratively

   Done so perfectly that it could be used as an example for others.

   Like doing something so perfectly that a teacher would show it to the whole class.

   His landing was textbook, smooth and right on target.

   The team made a textbook play to score the winning goal.

   Similarperfect, flawless, exemplary, faultless, impeccable

   Oppositeflawed, sloppy, botched

   Note
3. 3
   adjectivefiguratively

   Having all the usual signs of a type, like a clear example you could point to.

   Like a perfect picture you point to and say, 'that's exactly what it looks like.'

   His symptoms were a textbook case of the flu.

   It was a textbook example of bad planning from start to finish.

   Similarclassic, typical, archetypal, quintessential, standard

   Oppositeatypical, unusual

   Note
4. 4
   adjectivefiguratively

   Known only from reading books, not from real experience.

   Like knowing the rules of swimming from a book but never having been in the water.

   His knowledge of sailing was purely textbook, and he panicked in his first real storm.

   She gave a textbook answer but had never tried any of it herself.

   Similartheoretical, academic, bookish

   Oppositepractical, hands-on

   Note
5. 5
   adjective

   Dry and dull, like the writing in a school book.

   Like a long, dull lesson that just lists facts with nothing fun in it.

   His lecture was textbook in the worst way, flat and full of dull facts.

   The novel's textbook prose made it hard to enjoy.

   Similardidactic, dry, academic, pedantic

   Note

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