encyclopedia
Comprehensive reference work
An encyclopedia is a comprehensive reference work containing articles on a wide range of subjects or covering one field in depth.
Traditional encyclopedias arranged entries alphabetically across multiple volumes; digital versions now dominate.
The word suggests authoritative, systematically organized knowledge: She's a walking encyclopedia of baseball statistics.
I looked it up in the encyclopedia.
Comprehensive general encyclopedia
- WikipediaFree collaborative online encyclopedia
- EncartaDiscontinued Microsoft encyclopedia product
- editionSingle published version
- volumesAmounts or books
set · hardcover · binding · tome · compilation · compendium · anthology · almanac
Alphabetical guide to contents
- cross-referenceNotation pointing elsewhere
- citationMention of a source
- entryAccess or submission
- articleWritten piece or grammatical word
appendix · bibliography · source · footnote · annotation · excerpt · abstract · lookup
Covering all possibilities
- thoroughComplete in every detail
- all-encompassingIncluding everything without exception
- extensiveCovering a large scope
- completeLacking nothing, fully done
wide-ranging · systematic · detailed · inclusive · sweeping · panoramic · universal · holistic
Extensive scholarly knowledge
- scholarshipEducational funding or erudition
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
- understandingMental comprehension of something
expertise · enlightenment · insight · facts · information · comprehension · awareness · proficiency
Relating to education or theory
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- peer-reviewedEvaluated by field experts
- eruditeProfoundly knowledgeable
- learnedHaving much knowledge
intellectual · analytical · rigorous · methodical · theoretical · scholastic · expository · authoritative
Items logged or submitted
- articlesWritten works or items
- subjectsAreas of study
- topicsSubjects of discussion
- categoriesGroups of related things
summaries · explanations · descriptions · overviews · biographies · illustrations · diagrams · maps
Britannica
Comprehensive general encyclopedia
- WikipediaFree collaborative online encyclopedia
- EncartaDiscontinued Microsoft encyclopedia product
- editionSingle published version
volumes · set · hardcover · binding · tome · compilation · compendium · anthology · almanac · yearbook
index
Alphabetical guide to contents
- cross-referenceNotation pointing elsewhere
- citationMention of a source
- entryAccess or submission
article · appendix · bibliography · source · footnote · annotation · excerpt · abstract · lookup · alphabetical
exhaustive
Covering all possibilities
- thoroughComplete in every detail
- all-encompassingIncluding everything without exception
- extensiveCovering a large scope
complete · wide-ranging · systematic · detailed · inclusive · sweeping · panoramic · universal · holistic · in-depth
erudition
Extensive scholarly knowledge
- scholarshipEducational funding or erudition
- wisdomGood judgment from experience
- learningGaining knowledge gradually
understanding · expertise · enlightenment · insight · facts · information · comprehension · awareness · proficiency · grasp
academic
Relating to education or theory
- researchSystematic fact-finding effort
- peer-reviewedEvaluated by field experts
- eruditeProfoundly knowledgeable
learned · intellectual · analytical · rigorous · methodical · theoretical · scholastic · expository · authoritative · expert
entries
Items logged or submitted
categories · summaries · explanations · descriptions · overviews · biographies · illustrations · diagrams · maps · timelines
- booksnovel, textbooks, study guides, book, paperback
- book collectionscomplete works, box set, boxed set, collected works, volumes
- educational textstextbook, workbook, handbook, manual, study guide
- encyclopediasBritannica, World Book, Wikipedia, Encarta, Colliers
- information sourcespublic library, national library, academic library, digital library, knowledge base
- Knowledge Preservationlibrary, archive, museum, database, documentation
encyclopediasingle entry
One-sided transaction recording
pamphlet · leaflet · brochure · glossary · flash card
encyclopediadictionary
Alphabetical word reference
glossary · thesaurus · lexicon · wordlist · vocabulary list
- encyclopedic knowledgeVast, wide-ranging learning
- online encyclopediaWeb-based reference work
- walking encyclopediaPerson of vast knowledge
- encyclopedia setComprehensive topical book series
- encyclopedia salesmanPeddles multivolume reference works
- encyclopedia entriesInformational articles in compendiums