Writing Strategies: Defining a Word

First, study dictionary entries (I recommend the Oxford-English Dictionary (OED)). How do these entries structure a definition? How can you use that type of structure to expand into an essay; what is useful about the structure shown.

Once we look at that, let's think of how we can incorporate more specifically to our word and its definition the general considerations below:

Synonym – what are words or things that mean or do the same thing? 

• When we say that ____=blank, the equivalent basic sentence structure then becomes: “________ is _________.”  However, you can revise such a basic structure to sound more creative.

• Think beyond the standard idea of synonyms to provide qualities that you believe are similar that others may not necessarily have or understand until you provide them! 

• For example: “A smart person learns from mistakes.”  
• Reflect on this: What are things your subject does? Actions that exemplify it?

Negation – what is your word or thing not?

•  Defining a word by examples of things or ideas that you do not find are part of your definition can be a good thing, especially if you are negating an idea that others believe.

• For example: “A celebrity is not a hero simply because they are famous. A hero does not have to be famous.”

• Negation is also really good for providing, obviously, nice contrasting images/senses.  

• For example: "A weak man does not cry; he does not care about what happens to others." 

• Such a comment gives some tonal understanding to your audience when used effectively.

Classify (Chapter 9) – what is a category that your word can fit into?

•  Putting your word into a category of things that you find it relates to often helps illustrate your definition to readers.

• For example: “I see two types of evil people in the world: the first is a person who is intentionally cruel, and the second is a person who does not know that their actions are destroying others.”

Illustration/Example (Chapter 6)

• What's an example that allows us to see the word being put to use in daily life?

• Use story, such as we will review next week with some examples from Anthony Bourdain's memoir, Kitchen Confidential, in how he defines food.  "Food is ____."

• Be descriptive in your examples, whether you are illustrating a synonym, a negation or a classification of the word.