Basic Details
Word: Catalogue
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A complete list of items, such as books in a library or goods for sale, usually with details about each.
Synonyms: list, register, directory, inventory
Word origin: Comes from Greek katalogos, 'a list', from kata, 'fully', and legein, 'to count'.
How to Spell Catalogue
Syllables: cat - a - logue
Tricky part: The ending is -logue, with a silent ue, as in dialogue. The vowel after t is a.
Watch out for: catalouge, catelogue, catologue
Memory tip: Picture a cat on a log: cat + a + log, then add the ue that dialogue also carries.
Usage Examples
Example 1: I searched the library catalogue for books on volcanoes.
Example 2: The toy shop sends us a new catalogue every Diwali.
Example 3: The museum's catalogue gives the date and artist of every painting.
Fun Fact
Before computers, libraries kept their catalogues on small cards filed in long wooden drawers, one card for each book.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to complete the word:
cat_l_gue
a) a, o
b) a, a
c) e, o
d) o, o
Show answer
a) a, o. Say it as cat-a-log and the vowels fall into place before the silent ue.
Spell-o-Spell
Three of these words are spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of the misspelt word:
1. catalouge 2. dialogue 3. monologue 4. prologue
a) an opening section of a play or book
b) a complete list of items with details
c) a conversation between two or more people
d) a long speech by one person
Show answer
b) a complete list of items with details. All four end in -logue; catalouge has the u and g swapped.
Mingle-Mangle
Unscramble the jumbled word in the sentence and choose the correct word:
The school library has put its aceguotal of books online.
a) dialogue
b) analogue
c) catalogue
d) epilogue
Show answer
c) catalogue. The jumble holds a c and a t, which only catalogue has.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A catalogue of an art exhibition would tell you ____.
a) the details of each painting
b) how to paint a picture
c) the weather on the opening day
d) the visitors' names
Show answer
a) the details of each painting
2. Which word also ends in -logue?
a) fatigue
b) plague
c) league
d) epilogue
Show answer
d) epilogue
