The most complicated type of entry is that found in general explanatory dictionaries of the synchronic type. In such dictionaries the entry usually presents the following data: accepted spelling and pronunciation; grammatical characteristics including the indication of the part of speech of each entry word, whether nouns are countable or uncountable, the transitivity/intransitivity of verbs and irregular grammatical forms; definitions of meaning; modern currency; illustrative examples; derivatives; phraseology; etymology; sometimes synonyms and antonyms.
The compilers of a dictionary of the same type may choose a different setting of a typical entry: they may omit some of the items or add some others, choose a different order of their arrangement or a different mode of presenting the same information.
Compare the setting of the entries in the Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners (1) and the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English (2):
(1)
excel /ik'sel/ [I] to do something extremely well: We aim to give every student the opportunity to excel. ♦ + excel in/at: Robbie had always excelled at sport.
excel yourself 1 to do something much better than you usually do 2 humorous used when someone has in fact done even worse than they usually do
(2)
excel /ik'sel/ v excelled, excelling 1 [I, not in progressive] to do something very well, or much better than most people: [+at/in] Rick has always excelled at foreign languages. 2 excel yourself BrE to do something better than you usually do: Graham has excelled himself with the new exhibition.