Here's a breakdown:
* Dictionary: A dictionary defines words, explains their meanings, provides pronunciation, and often includes etymological information (word origins).
* Thesaurus: A thesaurus offers a list of words that have similar meanings to the word you look up. This helps you find alternative words to use in your writing or speech to avoid repetition or to find a more precise word.
In short:
* Dictionary: "What does this word mean?"
* Thesaurus: "What are some other words that mean the same thing?"