Library
Definition
Library is a noun that refers to a place where collections of books, documents, and other informational resources are stored, organized, and made available for public or private use. It can also describe a collection of similar resources, such as a digital library or software library.
Parts of Speech
- Noun
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈlaɪˌbrɛr.i/ or /ˈlaɪˌbrɛr.i/
- Respelling: LYE-brer-ee or LYE-bree
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈlaɪ.brər.i/ or /ˈlaɪ.brɪ/
- Respelling: LYE-brer-ee or LYE-bree
Etymology
The word "library" originates from the Latin "libraria," meaning "bookcase," derived from "liber," meaning "book." The term entered Old English as "librarie" in the 14th century, maintaining its reference to a collection of books or a place where books are kept.
Derivatives
- Librarian (noun)
- Library science (noun)
- Library card (noun)
- Library catalog (noun)
- Library management (noun)
Synonyms
- Collection
- Archive
- Repository
Antonyms
- None
Usage
The term "library" is commonly used in educational, academic, and community contexts. For example, "She borrowed a book from the public library," or "The software includes a vast library of templates."
Related Terms
- Bookstore: A place where books are sold.
- Archive: A collection of historical documents or records.
- Repository: A place where resources or items are stored and maintained.
Detailed Definitions
Noun
- A place where books, periodicals, and other materials are stored for public or private use: Refers to a physical location dedicated to information access.
- Example: "The university library is open 24 hours during finals week."
- A collection of digital or physical resources: Describes a curated set of resources for a specific purpose.
- Example: "The music software comes with a library of preloaded sound effects."
- A software library: Refers to a collection of prewritten code for reuse in programming.
- Example: "The developer used a graphics library to enhance the application."
library
The university library is open 24 hours during finals week.
The music software comes with a library of preloaded sound effects.
The developer used a graphics library to enhance the application.
🇨🇳 Chinese (Mandarin)
- "图书馆" (túshūguǎn) – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /tʰǔʂǔkwàn/
- English Respell: tu-shu-guan
- "文库" (wénkù) – library in a broader sense, such as a digital library or a library of works.
- IPA Pronunciation: /wən˥˩ kʰu˥˩/
- English Respell: wen-ku
🇮🇳 Hindi
- "पुस्तकालय" (pustakālaya) – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /pʊst̪kaːləj/
- English Respell: pust-kaa-lay
- "ग्रंथागार" (granthaagār) – another word for library, often used in official or academic context.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɡɾən̪t̪ʰaːɡaːr/
- English Respell: granth-aa-gaar
🇪🇸 Spanish
- "Biblioteca" – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /biβljoˈteka/
- English Respell: bib-lyo-te-ka
- "Librería" – can be used to mean a collection of books.
- IPA Pronunciation: /liβɾeˈɾi.a/
- English Respell: lib-re-ria
🇫🇷 French
- "Bibliothèque" – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /biblijɔtɛk/
- English Respell: bib-lee-o-tek
- "Médiathèque" – a media library, typically containing other forms of media in addition to books.
- IPA Pronunciation: /medjatɛk/
- English Respell: me-dya-tek
🇸🇦 Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic)
- "مكتبة" (maktaba) – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /makˈtaba/
- English Respell: mak-ta-ba
- "مركز المعلومات" (markaz al-ma'lumat) – used for a library in a broader, informational sense.
- IPA Pronunciation: /marˈkaz al maˈʔluːmat/
- English Respell: mar-kaz al ma-loo-mat
🇧🇩 Bengali
- "গ্রন্থাগার" (granthaagār) – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɡɾɔnthagaɾ/
- English Respell: grantha-gar
- "পাঠাগার" (pathagār) – another term for library.
- IPA Pronunciation: /paʈhaɡar/
- English Respell: patha-gar
🇷🇺 Russian
- "Библиотека" (biblioteka) – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /bʲɪblʲɪɐˈtʲekə/
- English Respell: bib-lee-o-te-ka
- "Читальный зал" (chital'nyy zal) – reading room, a room in a library where books and other materials are read.
- IPA Pronunciation: /t͡ɕɪˈtalʲnɨj zɐl/
- English Respell: chi-tal-nyi zal
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- "Biblioteca" – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /bibliɔˈtɛkɐ/
- English Respell: bib-lee-o-te-ka
- "Sala de Leitura" – reading room, a room in a library where books and other materials are read.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈsalɐ dɨ lɐiˈtuɾɐ/
- English Respell: sala de le-i-tura
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- "Perpustakaan" – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /pərpusˈtakaʔan/
- English Respell: per-pus-ta-ka-an
- "Pustaka" – refers to a collection of books or literature.
- IPA Pronunciation: /pusˈtaka/
- English Respell: pus-ta-ka
🇩🇪 German
- "Bibliothek" – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /bibliˈoːteːk/
- English Respell: bib-lee-o-tek
- "Lesesaal" – reading room, a room in a library where books and other materials are read.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈleːzəzaːl/
- English Respell: lee-ze-saal
🇯🇵 Japanese
- "図書館" (toshokan) – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /to̞ɕo̞kã̠ɴ/
- English Respell: to-sho-kan
- "資料室" (shiryōshitsu) – a reference room or reading room.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɕiɾʲo̞ːɕit͡sɨᵝ/
- English Respell: shi-ryo-shi-tsu
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- "Thư viện" – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /tʰɨ˨˩ʔ vîən˧ˀ˨ʔ/
- English Respell: thu vien
- "Phòng đọc" – reading room, a room in a library where books and other materials are read.
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɸɜwŋm˦ˀ˥ ɗɔk˦ˀ˥/
- English Respell: phong doc
🇰🇷 Korean
- "도서관" (doseogwan) – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /to̞sʰʌ̹ɡwan/
- English Respell: do-seo-gwan
- "독서실" (dokseoshil) – reading room, a room in a library where books and other materials are read.
- IPA Pronunciation: /tok̚sʰʌ̹ɕʰil̠/
- English Respell: dok-seo-shil
🇹🇷 Turkish
- "Kütüphane" – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /cytyˈphanɛ/
- English Respell: kyu-tu-pha-ne
- "Okuma odası" – reading room, a room in a library where books and other materials are read.
- IPA Pronunciation: /oˈkuma odaˈsɯ/
- English Respell: o-ku-ma o-da-su
🇵🇰 Urdu
- "کتاب خانہ" (kitaab khaana) – library as a place where books are kept.
- IPA Pronunciation: /kɪ'tɑːb xɑːnɑː/
- English Respell: ki-taab khaa-na
- "مطالعہ خانہ" (mutāle'a khaana) – reading room, a room in a library where books and other materials are read.
- IPA Pronunciation: /mʊˌtɑːliə xɑːnɑː/
- English Respell: mu-ta-lea khaa-na
