How do you use context clues to figure out the definition of a word?

Context clues are like little detectives that help you figure out the meaning of a word you don't know. Here's how to use them:

1. Look at the Sentence:

* Read the entire sentence carefully. Pay attention to the words surrounding the unknown word.

* Think about what the sentence is saying. Does it make sense without knowing the unknown word?

2. Look at the Paragraph:

* Read the paragraph the unknown word is in.

* Find any clues that help define the word. These clues can be synonyms, antonyms, examples, or explanations.

3. Consider the Type of Clue:

* Synonyms: The sentence might use a word with a similar meaning. For example: "The garrulous man talked nonstop, never giving anyone else a chance to speak." (Garrulous probably means talkative.)

* Antonyms: The sentence might use a word with the opposite meaning. For example: "She was gregarious and loved to be around people, unlike her shy brother." (Gregarious probably means outgoing.)

* Examples: The sentence might give examples that illustrate the word's meaning. For example: "The fauna of the rainforest included monkeys, parrots, and jaguars." (Fauna probably means animals.)

* Explanations: The sentence might provide a direct explanation of the word's meaning. For example: "The acrobat performed amazing feats of balance and agility, defying gravity with ease." (Acrobat probably means someone skilled in balancing and movement.)

4. Use Your Prior Knowledge:

* Think about what you already know about the topic. Can you use this knowledge to make an educated guess about the word's meaning?

5. Consider the Word's Structure:

* Look for prefixes, suffixes, and roots. These can provide clues to the word's meaning. For example, the word "unhappy" has the prefix "un-" which means "not," so unhappy means "not happy."

Example:

"The serene lake reflected the clear blue sky, creating a peaceful and tranquil atmosphere."

* Context clues: The words "peaceful" and "tranquil" suggest that "serene" has a positive and calm meaning.

* Prior knowledge: We know that lakes can be peaceful and relaxing.

Therefore, we can infer that "serene" means calm, peaceful, or tranquil.

Remember: Don't be afraid to use a dictionary if you can't figure out the word's meaning using context clues.