Cambridge International Dictionary of English [Paperback]

Paul Procter (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0521484219 | ISBN-13: 978-0521484213 | Publication Date: March 31, 1995

Cambridge International Dictionary of English (CIDE) is a dictionary for learners and users of English as a Foreign Language (intermediate and upwards). Resulting from several years of language research and analysis, CIDE is based on information from the Cambridge Corpus of 100 million words. Entries and examples demonstrate vocabulary, grammar and usage as they are used today. The strictly controlled 2000-word Defining Vocabulary ensures that the language level of the definitions is within the comprehension of the lowest level of student at which CIDE is aimed. Full coverage of international English is given including British, American and Australian varieties. The unique Guide Words act as 'signposts' and help the student distinguish quickly between different senses of the same word. Detailed grammar information is given but complicated grammar codes are avoided.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'CIDE is a state-of-the-art advanced learner's dictionary ... this is a fascinating dictionary. Our oldest publisher has produced something distinctly new.' EFL Gazette

'This is a major new dictionary - the first Cambridge have produced for this market ... All in all this is a very impressive dictionary.' BBC English Magazine

'There is a section on grammar and the parts of speech which is a model of clarity, and most welcome in an age when for many people grammar appears to be a closed book.' The Magazine of The Cambridge Society

'It is a pleasant surprise to open the Cambridge International Dictionary of English with its fresh approach and many welcome features ... I will be glad to recommend it to our students.' Professor Jan Svartvik, Lund University

'... its size is a function of what I consider the great success of one of Cambridge's aims: ... completeness. CIDE provides more entries and more examples than has been possible in other learners' dictionaries.' ATESOL No 2, 1995

'This new arrival must be regarded as a serious contender ... All in all, the layout, print size and quality of paper make it very user-friendly indeed ... a very valuable and attractive addition.' ATESOL Newsletter, 1995

'CIDE carefully explains parts of speech and their applications, is generous with idioms, and, best of all ... strongly labelled.' Sunday Telegraph, 1995

'This is an attractive, comprehensive, genuinely international dictionary, with a genuinely fresh approach. Highly recommended to both learners of English, and teachers of those learners.' ATESOL ACT, No.2, 1995

'This is the dream dictionary for EFL and ESL learners. It is comprehensive and clear.' VATME Newsletter, Australia, 1995

' ... the Cambridge International Dictionary of English ... is a valuable and fascinating addition to the reference shelf, and of use to students (and teachers) of English whether as a foreign, second or even first language ... the book is immediately user-friendly.' EA Journal Vol 13, No 2

'It is certainly a treasure-house of everything that a student of English could ever wish to find in one volume.' Frederick J Featham, The School of English, Greece

'All in all this is a pleasant dictionary to use. The type faces are clear and easy to read. Throughout it seems evident that there has been a deliberate effort to meet the needs of foreign learners.' ESP France Newsletter, 1995

Book Description

Cambridge International Dictionary of English (CIDE) is for learners of English as a Foreign Language (intermediate upwards). Full coverage of international English (British, American, Australian) ensures the vocabulary and examples, showing usage and context, demonstrate English as it is used today.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 1792 pages
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press (March 31, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0521484219
• ISBN-13: 978-0521484213
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,457,629 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete, Easy-to-Use, Informative, May 3, 2001

By 

Benjamin G. Gardner (Parkville, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cambridge International Dictionary of English Flexicover and CD-ROM Pack (Paperback)

This is probably one of the best dictionaries of international English to appear on the market - ever. Well-illustrated, and containing whole pages of grammar helps and lists of useful information relevant to every aspect of the use of the English language, this is the ultimate help for both teachers and students - as well as any other professional who comes into close and frequent contact with English.

By far, the greatest merit of this reference is that it is fair in respect to both British and American variants of the English language. Don't know what a pitch is, as in "They stepped onto the pitch to start the game?" Look it up to find that it's the British variant of "field". Perplexed when those Americans complain about dumpsters being emptied at 2:00 a.m.? It's in here too, as "skip" - and, what's more, for those learners who have no inkling as to what either a skip or a dumpster is, a well-illustrated "building and construction" table shows us what a skip is, along with several other implements.

What exactly is a pub? It's well-defined as "a building with one or more rooms where alcoholic drinks can be bought and drunk and where food is often available". But that, as is clearly explained, is only in England and Australia. In the US, it's a bar. All usages are clearly compared and contrasted with concise, carefully-worded examples.

The accompanying CD is another plus that vaults Cambridge's solid reputation into the 21st century. Along with providing everything the dictionary offers, it offers interactive pictures and the American and British pronunciation of the words - quite a handy tool for learners.

An excellent investment to be used for both a career and a lifetime, this will grace the lectern, the desk, and the copywriter's table with equal compatibility.

- Benjamin Gene Gardner

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed, August 2, 2002

By 

Ken Evans "ormer" (Stickford, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cambridge International Dictionary of English on CD-ROM (CD-ROM)

I selected this CD based on the (seemingly) good price and flattering comments on the Amazon website.
I need an electronic dictionary help me write a book about applying semantics to database modeling and design.

This CD disappointed me for five reasons:

1 No etymology
Essential if you need to fully understand and to compare the meanings of words.

2 Limited scope
The first three words I tried were not on the CD.

3 Slow load
It takes a loooong time to load (minutes). I'm using a 1000 mhz PC with 512MB ram and fast disks and all my other applications are lightning fast. (After it has loaded it is fast.) You have to choose to leave the application running or suffer the very slow startup every time you want to use it.

4 Audio does not always work
When I first loaded the application the pronounciation buttons worked. Now they don't work.(error message = Sound file not available). The word "audio" is not in the help file index!

5 Inhibiting copyright protection method
You have to put the CD in every 30 days or else the software stops running. I have dozens of applications on my machine and I travel a lot. If all software suppliers used this method I would have to carry dozens of CD's with me just in case one of them exceeded the 30 day limit. This creates an unnecessary administrative problem even for home users.

Why did I give it two stars?
Pronunciation: This CD will be people who want to know how to pronounce words. When the audio works, it works well and has both American and British sounds (but not for all words).

Spelling: I have always had trouble spelling "disappointed" and "unnecessary" Both of these words are in the dictionary so it helped me to prepare this review.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Dictionary I've ever seen., March 21, 2000

By 

Mohamad Elarabi "arabisoft" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cambridge International Dictionary of English (Cambrdige Illustrated History) (Hardcover)

This dictionary literally is the best dictionary I've ever seen, I've never opened it to lookup a word and I didn't find it. You'll be amazed of how this book almost got everything you're looking for, from scientific words to slang, including charts of words origins and comparisons of english and other languages, its really amazing I would give it a 6 out of 5.