Core glossary

A core glossary is a simple glossary or defining dictionary which enables definition of other concepts, especially for newcomers to a language or field of study. It contains a small working vocabulary and defintions for important or frequently encountered concepts, usually including idioms or metaphors useful in a culture.

The word glossary itself is derived from the Greek glossa (γλωσσα) meaning "tongue".
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In computer science, a core glossary is a pre-requisite to a core ontology. An example of this is seen in SUMO.