Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A usually daily written record of personal experiences and observations; a journal.
  • noun A daily record of events or measurable phenomena, usually kept to track patterns over time.
  • noun A book or computer file used for keeping such a record.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Lasting for one day: as, a diary fever.
  • noun [= Sp. Pg. It. diario, ⟨ L. diarium, a daily allowance for soldiers, LL. also a diary, neut. of *diarius, adj., ⟨ dies, day: see dial, deity. The synonym journal is of the same ult. origin.]
  • noun An account of daily events or transactions; a journal; specifically, a daily record kept by a person of any or all matters within his experience or observation: as, a diary of the weather; a traveler's diary.
  • noun A book prepared for keeping a diary; especially, a book with blank leaves bearing printed dates for a daily record, often including other printed matter of current use or interest: as, a lawyers' diary.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun A register of daily events or transactions; a daily record; a journal; a blank book dated for the record of daily memoranda
  • adjective obsolete lasting for one day.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A daily log of experiences, especially those of the writer.
  • noun The method or media used to keep such experiences.
  • noun UK, Canada A calendar or appointment book.
  • adjective obsolete Lasting for one day.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a personal journal (as a physical object)
  • noun a daily written record of (usually personal) experiences and observations

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Latin diārium, daily allowance, daily journal, from diēs, day; see dyeu- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin diārium ("a daily allowance for soldiers, Late Latin also a diary"), neuter of * diarius, from dies ("a day").

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Examples

Comments

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  • "November 21, 1943

    My Diary: Sunny early morning, rush to hang blankets out to dry.

    Alf Fildes' Diary: Began sunny but developed into the usual rain.

    Regimental Diary: At mid-day 19 Battery reported 2 guns ready for action. Bombard fired. Little improvement in weather.

    Mrs Gronks Diary: Cat died. Cancelled milk."

    - Spike Milligan, 'Mussolini: My Part In His Downfall'.

    April 25, 2009