DK Illustrated Oxford Dictionary [Hardcover]

DK Publishing (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0789493594 | ISBN-13: 978-0789493590 | Publication Date: June 13, 2003 | Edition: Revised

Combining the expertise of Oxford University Press with DK's genius in illustrated home reference, we have produced the Illustrated Oxford Dictionary a dictionary brimming with information. First published in 1998, this edition has been fully revised and updated to include 187,000 entries and definitions, 4,500 illustrations, as well as 600 illustrated feature panels on everything from cnidarians to woodwind instruments.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Oxford University Press has published dictionaries for more than 150 years and is today recognized as the world's leading authority on the authentication, definition, and usage of words in English. Oxford's World Reading Program tracks the growth of the English language worldwide, and is the most comprehensive survey of its kind, collecting on average more than 18,000 new words and phrases each month.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1008 pages
• Publisher: Dorling Kindersley / Oxford University Press; Revised edition (June 13, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789493594
• ISBN-13: 978-0789493590
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 8 x 2.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #272,450 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent dictionary gets a minor update, March 25, 2004

By 

Traveler (New England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: DK Illustrated Oxford Dictionary (Hardcover)

As a dictionary junkie, I've used a lot of dictionaries. By far, the Oxford Illlustrated is most enjoyable to use. I could even use the word fun.

Unfortunately, many professional book reviewers state that this dictionary is used primarily for a home with children or a classroom. While it is a great book for that demographic, it's a also a sheer pleasure for any adult.

Gone are the days of simplistic pencil drawings and flat lifeless paper. This dictionary has thousands of interesting illustrations and glossy paper. It's about as multi-media a book can get without being a computer program. Perhaps this does sound like it's only for kids. But it's not. It's truly a dictionary that almost anyone can open up and actually just enjoy looking at and reading - on almost any given page. This isn't something one can say about any dictionary before DK and Oxford got together to publish this book.

Obviously, if you're looking primarily for word history and extensive multipe definitions this dictionary isn't for you.

The original version of the Illustrated Oxford English Dictionary was published in 1998 at 1008 pages. This new edition, published in 2003, is described on the DK web site as "completely updated." I haven't been able to do direct comparisons, but given the fact that this edition is also 1008 pages the update couldn't have been too substantial. However, given that there were errors in the earlier edition and certain ommitted current words, it's best to go with this most recent edition.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oxford Ilustrated Dictionary, March 21, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: DK Illustrated Oxford Dictionary (Hardcover)

This dictionary is top of the line. The pictures are bright and brilliant with color. I absolutely love this dictionary. The colorful pictures,informative detail, and charts will draw kids in with curiosity. This is a keeper for any growing family with children.

I bought it online in a "Used" category for $15.00 but I received it Brand New/Mint condition. It retails for $50 and is definitely worth every penny.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very useful combination of definitions for words and illustrations showing exactly how they should be applied, January 19, 2006

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DK Illustrated Oxford Dictionary (Hardcover)

I am sure you are familiar with the larger "unabridged" dictionaries. This book is about that size, however, it only has about 75,000 head words (plus their other forms)[180,000+ if you just count all the entries]. This is pretty good, but you might wonder why you would want to have such a large book with the number of words in a much smaller pocket dictionary. The answer is the 5,000 illustrations that provide a great deal of information. These illustrations are not decorative (although they do add color and beauty to the text), they are well chosen and provide many of the terms related to that object. This is a very enlightening book and acts almost as a one-volume encyclopedia, but these are definitions NOT articles.

As the cover illustration of the Capitol in Washington D.C. shows, the picture shows all the architectural features of the building with their terms. What is the difference between a cornice and an entablature? The picture shows you immediately. Most useful!

Anyone who loves words and terms and wants to be sure to use them correctly can get quite a bit from this book.

Recommended!