HTML Dictionary Entry Markup: Part of Speech and Definitions

A dictionary entry should clearly identify the word, its part of speech, and its definition. A description list is useful for term-and-explanation pairs.

What You Need to Know

Examples of use can help readers understand a word, but they should not replace a real definition. Keep unfamiliar vocabulary out of a beginner definition.

The goal is not to collect as many tags as possible. Pick the element that best describes what the content really is.

Example: See It in Action

Add this example to the appropriate part of a practice HTML page. Read each line before you open the page in your browser.

This is a short HTML fragment. To try it as a webpage, put it inside the body element of a complete HTML document.

<article>
    <h1>photosynthesis</h1>
    <p><em>noun</em>
    </p>
    <dl>
        <dt>Definition</dt>
        <dd>How plants use light to make food.</dd>
    </dl>
</article>

Let’s Understand the Example

• Article marks a piece that could make sense on its own, such as a news post or recipe.
• An h1 introduces the main subject of the page. Use the heading level for structure rather than font size.
• A p groups a paragraph of related text. Start another paragraph for a new thought.

You should see a readable heading and its related content. The heading level tells readers how the ideas fit together, not merely how large the letters look.

What Should You See?

The page should display “photosynthesis” as a heading, followed by its related content. Change the heading text and refresh the browser to see the result.

Read only the headings, from top to bottom. Do they tell a sensible story? If not, move sections or choose levels that match the content.

Try It Yourself

1. Add one example sentence using the dictionary word correctly.
2. Save your changes, open or refresh the page, and compare the result with the original example.
3. Tell a friend what your change did. If you are not sure, undo it, refresh the page, and compare.

Common Beginner Mistakes

• Defining a simple word with an even harder unexplained word.
• Avoid picking tags just for their default bold, italic or spaced appearance. Use CSS for presentation.

Key Takeaways

• A dictionary entry should clearly identify the word, its part of speech, and its definition.
• Article marks a piece that could make sense on its own, such as a news post or recipe.
• Examples of use can help readers understand a word, but they should not replace a real definition. Keep unfamiliar vocabulary out of a beginner definition.