Dazed But Not Confused

Dictionaries in use

     Using a dictionary turns out to be not that easy thing we all expected. Previously we didn't take it seriously when we looked up a word in a dictionary because that was just the usual process. However, now I know it was only the tip of the iceberg as dictionaries hide a lot of secrets that may come in handy. To make the most of using the dictionary here are some useful pieces of advice that will help you to build your vocabulary: 

1. KNOW YOUR DICTIONARY. Prior to this tip it's essential to understand what your level of English is. If you learn ESL descriptive dictionary will effectively improve your knowledge. However, advanced learners more get down to the prescriptive ones as they speak the language fluently. 
2. MONOLINGUAL VS BILINGUAL. Using monolingual dictionary will definitely work for everyone who wants to expand his/her vocabulary. It makes the language fluent and more natural in comparison with the bilingual one that contains only a word and its translation. 
3. GIVE A REST TO THE DICTIONARY. You mustn't concentrate your mind only on what that word means. You can omit the word by guessing the meaning from the context. Depending on your dictionary all the time makes no sense. 
4. DICTIONARY IS NOT A TEACHER. It is obvious that a dictionary is not a teacher, it only provides you with what a particular word means but not with the usage of the word. 
5. NOT EVERYTHING CAN BE TRANSLATED. There are some phrases in different languages that cannot be accurately translated so to make yourself understood you need to use monolingual dictionary that will clarify the word or phrase. 

The word I regularly mispronounce is 
COOPERATIVE /kəʊˈɒp.ər.ə.tɪv/ - willing to help or do what people ask. 
The words I often confuse: 
MANAGE /ˈmæn.ɪdʒ/ : 

1. to succeed in doing or dealing with something, especially something difficult: I only just managed to finish on time. 
2. to succeed in living on a small amount of money: After she lost her job, they had to manage on his salary. 

AMBIGUOUS /æmˈbɪɡ.ju.əs/ - having or expressing more than one possible meaning, sometimes intentionally: His reply to my question was somewhat ambiguous. 
The words that entered the dictionary in 2016: 
FINGERTIP - the end of a finger. 
TROUT POUT - very big lips that women get if they have too much collagen put in their lips in an operation to make them look bigger. 
ANTE - an amount of money that each person must risk in order to be part of a game that involves gambling.