Dictionary definitions are general, but you can also define with specific examples. For example, the dictionary says that a procrastinator is a person who puts things off to last minute. Go further. How does a procrastinator behave? What does she think when she realizes that her major project is due tomorrow? What is his first thought when he gets a writing assignment that isn't due for two weeks?
You can make excellent use of defining examples when you are exploring the meanings of words or ideas for which the dictionary gives little help. For example, the dictionary defines "beautiful" and "people," but it does not define the concept of "beautiful people." This combination of words suggests something which Webster's Dictionary ignores. Similarly, you can think if the "unsung hero."
In contrast to the standard denotative dictionary definition, a definition by example looks at the connotations that sometimes belong to words. Consider a subspecies you know about and define this type by example, with specifics. Some suggestions:
- hacker
- slacker
- geek
- cynic
- showoff
- hotdog
- boor
