The International Welding Thesaurus

"This thesaurus consists of a list of 'preferred terms' and 'non-preferred terms' each with an indication of the keyword(s) to be used in indexing. It will also show relations between terms: 'broader terms' (BTs), 'narrower terms' (NTs) and 'related terms' (RTs). Many terms will include 'scope notes' (SNs) clarifying their intended use (the subject areas that they cover). Below is a list of the different types of entries that appear in the thesaurus: SC 'subject category' - broad subject area (processes, materials, applications, etc.) SN 'scope note' - explaining the meaning of a term USE points from non-preferred term to preferred term UF 'used for' - the opposite of USE UA 'use and' - for cases where a concept is expressed by two keywords used together UFA 'used for' - the opposite of UA NT 'narrower term' - the opposite of BT BT 'broader term' - generic-specific, part-whole, etc. RT 'related term' - similar terms, terms in same subject area, opposites HIS 'history' - date added, term(s) used before that date. The purpose of a thesaurus, in information retrieval, is to make it easier to retrieve a maximum number of items that are relevant to your enquiry, and a minimum number of items that are not relevant to your enquiry: to give you more of what you want, and less of what you don't want."