Catalog Meaning
Catalog Definition & Usage
A comprehensive list or record, typically organized systematically, of items, works, or resources.
Examples
- "The library maintains an up-to-date catalog of all its books and journals."
- "The company has just released its new product catalog, showcasing the latest models of its phones."
- "He searched through the catalog of available jobs to find one that suited his skills."
- "The museum's catalog includes detailed descriptions of every exhibit."
- "She added the rare book to her collection and recorded it in her personal catalog."
To systematically organize or list items, works, or resources in a catalog.
Examples
- "She cataloged the books by genre before placing them on the shelf."
- "The museum staff cataloged all the newly acquired paintings in the archive."
- "It took several weeks to catalog the entire collection of antiques."
- "Before the sale, they cataloged the inventory to ensure nothing was missing."
- "The librarian spent hours cataloging the latest donation of books."
Cultural Context
The word 'catalog' originates from the Greek 'katalogos', meaning 'a list'. Over time, it has evolved in various fields to refer to lists or systems used to organize items or information. Catalogs have long been essential in libraries, businesses, and other institutions to manage and reference large amounts of information efficiently.
The Catalog of Dreams
Story
The Catalog of Dreams
In a quiet corner of the city, an old bookstore stood, surrounded by modern glass buildings. The bookstore had been in the family for generations, and its owner, Thomas, was proud of its vast collection of rare books. Each time a new book arrived, he would carefully catalog it, recording its details in an old leather-bound ledger. To him, the catalog wasn’t just a list; it was a record of stories, each one waiting to be discovered. One day, a young woman named Clara walked into the store, searching for a particular book she had heard about from a friend. As she browsed the shelves, she came across a handwritten catalog of the store's rarest books, neatly organized by genre and author. Intrigued, she flipped through the pages and found the book she had been seeking, hidden in the 'Forgotten Tales' section. ‘How do you keep track of all these books?’ Clara asked Thomas, admiring the catalog’s meticulous order. Thomas smiled, ‘I’ve been cataloging these books for years. It’s not just about listing them—it’s about understanding the stories behind each one. Every book here tells a part of our history.’ Clara nodded, realizing that the catalog wasn’t merely a tool; it was a reflection of the store’s legacy. As she checked out the book, Thomas promised to catalog the new collection of rare novels that would soon arrive. Clara left the store, thinking of how her own life was like a catalog, full of chapters yet to be written, waiting to be discovered. The catalog had transformed from a simple list of items to a bridge between past and future, a living record of dreams yet to unfold.
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