1. Context and Usage:
* Understanding the Meaning: Sentences show how a word is used in actual language, providing context and helping you understand its meaning more clearly. Often, a word can have multiple meanings, and the sentence helps you discern the intended one.
* Grasping Nuances: Sentences illustrate the subtle variations in meaning and usage of a word, especially when dealing with synonyms or words with similar but not identical definitions.
* Learning Grammar: Sentences demonstrate how a word fits grammatically within a phrase or clause, showing its function and relationship to other words.
2. Clarity and Accessibility:
* Making Definitions More Concrete: Sentences make definitions more understandable by illustrating them in action. A definition alone might be abstract, while a sentence makes it tangible.
* Improving Retention: Seeing a word used in a sentence can help you remember it more easily than just reading a definition.
* Making Learning More Engaging: Sentences can be more engaging to read than a list of definitions, making the learning process more enjoyable.
3. Practical Application:
* Language Proficiency: Sentences provide models for how to use the word correctly in your own writing and speech.
* Vocabulary Building: Sentences help you learn new words by seeing them in context and understanding how they relate to other words.
* Developing Writing Skills: Studying sentences helps you learn how to construct grammatically correct and clear sentences yourself.
4. Historical and Cultural Insights:
* Evolving Language: Sentences can show how the usage of a word has changed over time, providing insights into the history of the language.
* Cultural Context: Sentences can reflect the cultural context of a word, revealing its social or historical significance.
In summary, dictionaries provide sentences to make definitions more concrete, accessible, and applicable, enhancing our understanding and usage of words in the real world.