Final answer:
False. Syntax is not about the dictionary definition of a word; it refers to the order or arrangement of words in sentences, while dictionary definitions provide meanings of words.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that syntax is the dictionary definition of a word is false. Syntax refers to the order or arrangement of words within a sentence to make grammatically correct sentences and convey meaning effectively. For example, the famous line from Hamlet by Polonius, "To thine own self be true," shows a rearrangement of words for emphasis, differing from the more common contemporary order, "be true to yourself." This illustrates how writers manipulate syntax for rhetorical effect. In contrast, a dictionary definition provides the meaning of a word, not its placement in sentences.