Document
/ˈdɑːkjumənt/
nounverbB1
Definition
As a noun, a document is a piece of paper or a digital file that has information, facts, or evidence written or printed on it. It can be a letter, report, certificate, or any official paper. As a verb, to document means to write down, record, or save information carefully so others can see or use it later.
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See It in Action
Noun: A written or printed paper with information
- •I lost my passport, which is an important travel document.
- •The contract is a legal document that both sides must sign.
- •She kept all the documents related to her job in a folder.
Verb: To record or write information carefully
- •The scientist documented the results of the experiment.
- •Please document all your expenses for the trip.
- •The police documented the accident with photos and notes.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "document" like "paper" (A1 word), but one that has important information or proof on it
- ✓Picture a file folder or a notebook full of pages with facts, dates, or instructions written clearly
- ✓It's the feeling of safety when you have a receipt or a certificate to prove something happened
- ✓Sounds like "DOC-you-ment" → imagine a doctor (doc) writing notes to keep important health information safe
- ✓Think of a storybook that tells facts, or a passport that shows who you are—both are types of documents
- ✓NOT like "note" (small, quick message), a document is usually longer or more official
- ✓NOT like "memory" (in your mind), a document keeps information outside your head for others to see
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "say" (spoken words), but "document" means to write or save information exactly
Try Other Words
- •Record: to write down or save information (Use when focusing on the action of saving information rather than the paper itself)
- •File: a collection of documents or a single document stored on a computer (Use when talking about digital or organized groups of documents)
- •Certificate: an official document proving something (Use when the paper proves identity, achievement, or permission)
- •Report: a detailed document giving information about something (Use when the document explains or describes events or facts)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "doc" (from Latin "docere" meaning to teach or show) + "-ument" (a suffix forming nouns)
- •Etymology: From Latin "documentum," meaning a lesson or proof, originally from "docere" (to teach)
- •Historical development: First used in English in the late 14th century to mean proof or evidence, later expanded to mean written papers
- •Modern usage: Used for any official or important papers, as well as the action of writing or recording information carefully
Reflect & Connect
•How does having a document help people prove or remember important things in daily life?
•Can you think of situations where it is better to document something by writing rather than just remembering it?
Fill in the blanks
1.You should always keep important documents like passports and birth certificates in a safe ___.
2.The teacher asked us to document our homework by writing down all the ___ we used.
3.Unlike a quick note, a document usually contains more ___ and details.
4.When the accident happened, the police documented it by taking photos and ___.
5.Digital documents can be saved on a computer or ___ drive for easy access.
6.If you want to prove your identity, you need an official ___ like an ID card.
7.Scientists document their experiments carefully so others can ___ their results.