Dictionary (Flat Vocabulary)

Definition, description, and example of a dictionary

Definition of Dictionary

In the context of metadataData about data. Metadata provides a context for research findings, ideally in a machine-readable format. It enables discovery of data via an electronic interface, and correct use and attribution of findings. Related Guide, a dictionary is a type of controlled, flat vocabulary that provides a list of metadata terms, definitions, and additional information within a specific domain.

Discussion

In practice, a dictionary builds upon a glossary by providing additional information about each term, or valueMetadata values are the content connected to metadata labels in a metadata element. For example, if the metadata label is "date", the metadata value could be "May 13, 2007". Related Guide. This additional information might include how the value came to be selected, the etymology of the value, or additional, site-specific context for each value. A dictionary provides more than a definition, but the nature of the additional information is subject to each project’s interpretations.

Example - CDI Sea Search (SeaDataNet) Vocabularies

• "CODE","SHORT_TITLE","FULL_TITLE","COMMENTS","CREATED","MODIFIED"
• "USPC","Unspec.","Not specified","Use for parameters where the units are deliberately undefined such as arbitrary units","2/2/05 16:14",""
• "UKWN","Unknown","Not known","Use for parameters that should have a unit, but it is not known. Usage of this code is STRONGLY DISCOURAGED","2/2/05 16:16",""
• "UPPM","ppm","Parts per million","Usage not recommended for parts per million by weight. Use milligrams/kilogram instead.","16/9/1994 00:00:00","18/10/1995 13:36:11"
• "UAQU","A^2/Q","Angstrom squared per quanta","Scaled unit by Avagadro's number and powers of ten to m**2/mol","2/2/05 16:49",""
• "USVD","Sv","Sverdrup","One Sverdrup is a million cubic metres per second or a million cumecs","17/2/2005 12:44:16","14/10/2005 11:47:50"
• "UNPI","ng","Nanograms","Changed from nanograms per individual when per individual semantics transferred to the parameter description","10/2/00 0:00","3/8/05 8:52"
• "UAAA","deg","Degrees","","1/1/87 0:00","4/11/05 12:47"
• "UABB","deg T","Degrees True","","1/1/87 0:00","4/11/05 12:47"

This dictionary provides a code, a short title, a full title, comments, creation date, and modification date, in csvComma Separated Value format. It clearly tells us about the management of this vocabulary, which is very useful for selecting a vocabulary.