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Definition of cyclopedia

cyclopedia

/ˌsaɪ.kləˈpiː.di.ə/
(UK: cyclopaedia)
cy · clo · pe · di · a
Adverb:cyclopedically
•
Plural:cyclopedias
•
Adjective:cyclopedic
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cyclopedia Lexical Profile

cyclopedia Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A reference work or set of books providing articles on all branches of knowledge or on a single specialized subject, typically arranged alphabetically; an encyclopedia.

Example

"The antiquarian bookstore had a rare nineteenth-century cyclopedia of agriculture."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for cyclopedia

Word Nuance & Usage

While synonymous with 'encyclopedia', 'cyclopedia' is now somewhat dated or restricted to the titles of older reference works and specialized compendiums.

• Rhymes for cyclopedia

• Nearby Words

cyclist
cyclone
cyclonic
cyclopedia
cyclops
cyclops snake
cyclura

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the 16th century as a shortened variant of 'encyclopedia', from Modern Latin 'cyclopaedia', stripping away the Greek prefix 'en-' (in) to leave 'kyklos' (circle) and 'paideia' (education).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cyclopedia. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cyclopedia
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