1. a word printed at the top of a page in a dictionary, reference book, or similar work to indicate the first or last entry on that page
Usage: also called a running head or catchword in some contexts

Examples

• The guideword 'apple' at the top of the page tells you that all entries on this page begin with words starting with 'a' or 'ap'.
• Dictionary guidewords help readers quickly locate the section they need without reading every entry.
• The left guideword shows the first entry on the page, while the right guideword shows the last entry.
• Students use guidewords to navigate through the dictionary more efficiently.
• Most modern dictionaries include guidewords to improve usability.