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Definition of dialect noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

dialect

noun
 
/ˈdaɪəlekt/
 
/ˈdaɪəlekt/
[countable, uncountable]
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  1. the form of a language that is spoken in one area with grammar, words and pronunciation that may be different from other forms of the same language
    • the Yorkshire dialect
    • dialect words/expressions
    compare accent, idiolect
    Extra Examples
    • All languages and dialects change over time.
    • She spoke in broad Yorkshire dialect.
    • The poet uses a variety of Scots dialect words and expressions.
    Topics Languagec1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • local
    • native
    • regional
    verb + dialect
    • speak
    • speak in
    dialect + noun
    • form
    • word
    • speaker
    See full entry
    Word Originmid 16th cent. (denoting the art of investigating the truth of opinions): from French dialecte, or via Latin from Greek dialektos ‘discourse, way of speaking’, from dialegesthai ‘converse with’, from dia ‘through’ + legein ‘speak’.
See dialect in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary
trait
noun
 
 
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