Customer Reviews

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary with CD-ROM

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

First of all, a disclaimer. I love dictionaries. Since I was a little girl, nothing has made me happier than selecting my dictionaries. OK, perhaps I should get a life. Also, I must say that words are my profession and my passion. As a copywriter and writer, I use dictionaries and style books constantly. I must tell you, however, there is a tremendous difference in dictionaries. I spend weeks, even months, selecting the one to buy.

In the case of this particular dictionary, there's no contest! I write a lot for the British market. I have many British clients and must write in British English. I love British English and, to be frank, I think it's more beautiful both spoken and written than our own. But there's far more differences in meaning and spelling and even in the words than one might imagine.

The other day I needed to look up "lorry" to discover it was in fact a truck.

The dictionary gives both the US and the UK meaning and spelling of all the words. It's exceptionally easy to read and use. I use the Palm version and the software more than the book. The software is just great. It's a fast, easy install. The software is easy to use. For example, take the word lorry. If you're American, you simply look up truck and it gives you both the US and the UK terms. It also has an audio that lets you hear the way the word sounds, in either US or UK English.

The software also has a thesaurus, pictures of many things you will look up, a study guide, a place for notes about different words and entries and much more.

I truly love this dictionary. It's probably my favorite (or should I say favourite dictionary.)

If you have need of a dictionary that gives you both the American and the British spellings and definitions, this is the only book you'll need. In fact, if you're a writer who has any reason at all to write in British English, this is a must-have. I know of no other dictionary that's superior to this one.

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

I am satisfied with it but it is not as comprehensive as I would like. The other day, I saw the word "dolerite" in a magazine I was reading, but the dictionary didn't have it. "Khmer" is the official language of Cambodia and the dictionary doesn't have it either. I know this kind of dictionaries is not meant to be very comprehensive, so I can't say anything bad about this dictionary. But if you read many technical and other so-called high-level English books, you may want to look for more comprehensive dictionary.
This dictionary also lacks some features other dictionaries have. For example, a Longman dictionary shows if a word is more likely to be used in spoken language than in writing, and if a word is more often used in writing, what word is used instead in spoken language. It also shows slight differences in meaning among similar words with examples. Of course, this dictionary has features other dictionaries do not have, such as mistakes English learners are likely to make when using the word.
Overall, I am satisfied with this dictionary and the CD that comes with it. I will continue to grab this one first whenever I need to look something up.

Easy to undestand, clear explanations, unambiguous divisions of each section (verb, noun, idiom, prhasal verb, etc.) for each word. "Word partner" section and "Common mistakes" and "Tesaurus" boxes are really useful to the English learner, you could learn grammar and improve your vocabulary at the same time using just one book or cd-rom. The CD allow you to practice and listen to English pronuntiation. And the cherry of the cake is the cd-rom's SMART thesaurus, use it to avoid word repetitions and for getting a better English. Without a doubt is a must-have.

At first when I saw the dictionary I said to myself "ah, it's the same thing, just some different colors, and some collocations boxes". As I had the first edition (CALD 1), I was confused because this dictionary has 300 pages (1800 total pages) more than the other I had (1st ed, 1500 total pages). Yet, it lacked some vital information from their previous CALD, the STUDY-GUIDE and some extras, I asked myself how come???

Guess what they've done? They removed the whole STUDY-GUIDE from the older version!! I was like "What?????"

However, when I started browsing the cd I discovered that, to my surprise, the study-guide was included in the CD-ROM!! At the same time, they included about 400 new pages in this (paper) dictionary amounting to 1800 pages. Smart manoeuvre from Cambridge mates!!

"What sets this dictionary apart from the others?"" you might be asking yourself... Now for the first time, the CD-ROM is what takes center stage! It is JAM PACKED with exercises, extras, tests for CAE, CPE, and so forth.

The layout of the 1st and 2nd editions (meaning colors) is better. This one looks more serious as it's mostly black bold font. The color of the software (background) is yelow/green something that I didn't undestand why, it looks like the Brazilian flag, lol. It's pretty weird that this dictionary actually looks thinner than the previous editions (at least in my opinion).

Cambridge has set the stage for a new model of dictionaries, soon others will follow suit, and Cambridge will have a harder mission of having to out-do themselves. It'll be a tough battle!

It was a dangerous move as you can probably find the cd on the net somewhere. Guys, BUY it, it's worth it, even if used, it doesn't matter as long as you buy it.

*GOSH, an even better dictionary has come! It's the longman contemporary english dictionary. It comes not with a cd but guess what? A DVD!! then? Then, it will have wayyyy more things on it. Actually, it's a monster tool once it has a kind of collocation dictionary, expressions dicionary, listening, tests and many other things at once! I think Cambridge has been left behind now. However, price wise, they "reach" different publics. I would strongly recommend the Longman one to teachers while the cambridge for students.

Easy and clear explanation of words.
There is a CD included that lets you find and listen the word in PC.

The Cambridge series of english learner books are the best I have ever seen. I strongly recommend it for the Advanced student and even for those that just need a reference at home. Easy to browse and very detailed descriptions make this one a keeper.

Easy to find and good descriptions. Practical CD-Rom. I highly recommend it to English students, you'll look up in it a lot!

This is the best dictionary in its category, simple to use and clear explanations are given. Ideal for students in general.

Easy to use. Great illustrations as well as variation of words (U.S & BRITISH uses ). It's worth every penny with lots of things to learn!

I bought this item in May, 2010. All these days I found it very useful in certain aspects. The etymology of words are not given in this dictionary. I also found certain words unavailable in this dictionary and I had to surf the internet to find the meanings (eg: gnosticism, combinatorics, etc.,). But, this may depend on the reader's need of words. In other situation it was a great tool of reference. I would not recommend this for researchers.