thesaurus
n.n. a book or online tool that lists words with similar meanings. You use it to find a better word to use in your writing.
n. a reference work containing lists of words grouped together according to similarity of meaning. Often used to identify synonyms for a specific word.
I looked up the word 'happy' in the thesaurus.
The writer used a digital thesaurus to find a more precise word for 'big' in her novel.
While a standard dictionary provides definitions, a thesaurus serves as a linguistic compass, guiding the author toward the most appropriate synonym for the specific tone they wish to achieve.
16th century, borrowed from Latin thēsaurus, from Ancient Greek θησαυρός (thēsaurós, “storehouse, treasure”); its current English usage/meaning was established soon after the publication of Peter Roget's Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases in 1852. Doublet of treasure.