Guidebooks

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Books that offer detailed information and recommendations for tourists or visitors about places to see, stay, and activities to do
2. Publications that serve as references to help travelers understand and navigate destinations with useful tips and descriptions
3. Printed or digital manuals designed to inform and assist people exploring new locations by giving practical guidance and suggestions

Etymology: "Guidebooks" is simply the plural of "guidebook," a compound of "guide" and "book." The first element comes from Old French "guider," to lead or direct, and the second is the ordinary English "book," so the whole word is transparent: a book that guides. The plural adds nothing new to the story; it just makes the compound countable, as with any noun. The meaning of the compound follows directly from its parts. A guidebook is a book that leads a reader through a place or a subject, and in the sense used here it is a book written for people who are travelling, giving directions, sights, and practical information. Each part of the word still does its own job, which is why the term has changed so little since it was formed.

Synonyms: manuals, handbooks, directories, travel books, reference books