What does the initial bold entry in dictionary for word reputation tell you?

You're asking about the initial bold entry in a dictionary definition for the word "reputation." It's impossible to answer without knowing which dictionary you're looking at.

However, here's what the bold entry *generally* means in a dictionary:

* The headword: The bold entry is the word itself, the one being defined. In this case, it would be reputation.

* The part of speech: Sometimes the bold entry will also include the part of speech of the word (noun, verb, adjective, etc.). For example, it might be reputation (noun).

To get a more specific answer, please tell me which dictionary you're referring to.