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One of the best definitions I know of the term dictionary was given by C C Berg: "A dictionary is a systematically arranged list of socialized (2) linguistic forms compiled from the speech-habits of a given speech-community and commented on by the author in such a way that the qualified reader understands the meaning [...] of each separate form, and is informed of the relevant facts concerning the functionof that form in its community." This definition is concerned with the central types of dictionaries, i.e. with those dealing primarily with lexical meaning.

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[Footnote] 2. The term "socialized" is explained by C C Berg in the subsequent sentence in the following way: "Linguistic forms are social facts in so far as they result from individual utterances being socialized, i.e. imitated time after time, under similar circumstances, by members of the community where they originated". In the overwhelming majority of cases, the data indicated in a dictionary are "socialized forms" in this sense of the word; what remains beyond the boundaries of the definition would be the indications of different occasional forms , e.g. hapax legomena in big dictionaries. It is not necessary to lose much time pondering over such exceptions (which confirm the rule); after all, it can be maintained that each and every hapax can potentially develop into a "socialized form", i.e. into a form whichis stabalized in the system of language (as discussed by C C Berg in his further discussion, loc. cit.) and also that a hapax is usually understood only on the background of the stabalized, "socialized" forms.