First of all purchasing a good English/X and X/English dictionary is an investment in your future. For "generic" purposes X represents any foreign language (French, Spanish, Japanese, etc.) Here is the "key" to using a dictionary for a vocabulary word/expression.

1. Look up a word in X for the English word. Write down ALL the possibilities.
2. Now look up all the possibilities for the primary English meaning. You will find a lot of surprises!
3. OR take a word in X and look up all the English possibilities. Write them all down.
4. Now look up each possibility to see the primary meaning in X.
5. There are no "shortcuts!" After you have done 1 & 2 OR 3 & 4, select the best word, based on the context, or exactly how that word is to be used. You must also know the part of speech of that word.

Then to verify what you have done, post on this Help Forum for feedback/proofreading, etc.

Thank you for sharing a useful approach to using a dictionary for learning a foreign language. Here's a step-by-step explanation of the process:

1. Start by looking up a word in the foreign language (X) to find its English translation. Note down all the possible translations provided by the dictionary. It's important to capture all the options to have a comprehensive understanding of the word.

2. Once you have the English translations, look up each of them individually to explore their meanings in more depth. You might encounter surprising or nuanced differences in the translations, so it's beneficial to explore each possibility.

3. Alternatively, you can select a word in the foreign language (X) and look up its English translations. Write down all the English possibilities.

4. After you have the English translations, lookup each one to find the primary meaning in the foreign language (X). This step helps you understand the word in its original context and usage.

5. There are no shortcuts in this process. Once you have completed step 1 and 2 or steps 3 and 4, carefully select the best translation based on the context or how the word is intended to be used. It's also essential to consider the part of speech of the word (noun, verb, adjective, etc.) to ensure correct usage.

To validate and verify your understanding, you can seek assistance and feedback by posting your translations or sentences on a language-learning forum or community for proofreading and clarification.

Remember, using a dictionary effectively requires patience, practice, and continuous learning. Over time, this method will help build a strong vocabulary and improve your understanding of the foreign language.