different between diction vs vocabulary

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin dicti?, dicti?nis, from dictus, past participle of dicere (“to speak”), from Proto-Indo-European *dey?- (“to show, point out”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?d?k??n/

• Rhymes: -?k??n

Noun

diction (countable and uncountable, plural dictions)

1. Choice and use of words, especially with regard to effective communication.
2. The effectiveness and degree of clarity of word choice and expression.

Related terms

• dictate
• dictionary

Translations

References

• diction at OneLook Dictionary Search
• diction in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

See also

• enunciation

French

Etymology

From Latin dicti?, dicti?nis, from dictus, past participle of dicere (“to speak”), from Proto-Indo-European *dey?- (“to show, point out”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /dik.sj??/

Noun

diction f (plural dictions)

1. diction (clarity of word choice)

Further reading

• “diction” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

English

Etymology

From French vocabulaire, borrowed from Late Latin voc?bul?rium. See vocable.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /v???kabj?l???/, /v??kabj?l???/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /vo??kæbj?l??i/, /v??kæbj?l??i/
• Hyphenation: vo?cab?u?lary

Noun

vocabulary (countable and uncountable, plural vocabularies)

1. A usually alphabetized and explained collection of words e.g. of a particular field, or prepared for a specific purpose, often for learning.
2. The collection of words a person knows and uses.

   My Russian vocabulary is very limited.

3. The stock of words used in a particular field.

   The vocabulary of social sciences is often incomprehensible to ordinary people.

4. The words of a language collectively; lexis.

   The vocabulary of any language is influenced by contacts with other cultures.
5. (by extension) A range of artistic or stylistic forms or techniques.

Synonyms

• clavis
• glossary
• idioticon
• word-stock

Coordinate terms

• dictionary
• lexicon
• wordhoard

Derived terms

• defining vocabulary
• controlled vocabulary
• extended vocabulary

Related terms

• vocable
• vocal

Translations