encyclopedia

A noun referring to a comprehensive reference work containing articles on a wide range of subjects or on many aspects of a particular field, usually arranged alphabetically.

• 🇫🇷Nom désignant un ouvrage de référence exhaustif contenant des articles sur un large éventail de sujets ou sur de nombreux aspects d'un domaine particulier, généralement classés par ordre alphabétique.

1. Reference work B1 formal

   A book or set of books containing articles on various topics, usually arranged alphabetically.

   • He consulted the encyclopedia to learn about ancient Rome.
   • The library has a complete set of encyclopedias.
   • She found the answer in the encyclopedia.

   🇫🇷Encyclopédie (ouvrage de référence)

   Synonymes: compendiumcyclopaediacyclopediareference bookreference work

2. Online resource A2 informal

   A digital collection of information on many subjects, accessible via the internet.

   • Wikipedia is the most popular online encyclopedia.
   • I used an online encyclopedia to research my project.
   • The digital encyclopedia is updated regularly.

   🇫🇷Encyclopédie en ligne

• encyclopedias plural form
• encyclopedias' possessive plural form
• encyclopedia's possessive singular form