DK Oxford American Dictionary [Hardcover]

DK Publishing (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0789463679 | ISBN-13: 978-0789463678 | Publication Date: July 1, 2000 | Edition: 1st

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A perfect marriage of two great reputations in reference books, this splendid dictionary is filled with detailed illustrations that illuminate technical, scientific and specialized subjects. The DK Oxford American Dictionary is filled with 4500 detailed illustrations that illuminate technical, scientific and specialized subjects, covers usage, grammar and slang, and it features an easy guide to correct pronunciation. This uniquely visual lexicon is the ultimate family reference.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Most dictionaries seem lopsided--words, words, words! What about the right side of your brain? If you've ever been frustrated with a written definition that didn't quite evoke the sweaty, dirty reality of its subject, the DK Illustrated Oxford Dictionary should have a place on your reference shelf. Created by the image wizards at Dorling Kindersley and the emperors of etymology at Oxford University Press, this 1,000-page tome contains 180,000 clear, up-to-date entries and over 5,000 sharp color pictures that are perfect matches for the words they seek to explain.

Also valuable are the simple, informative reference pages; physical and political maps, calendars and units of measure, and rules of style all shine from the page with the intensity of a laser (see diagram, p. 457). Whether you want a more intimate knowledge of gearbox than "the casing that encloses a set of gears" or a visual awareness of the tiniest parts of an insect's body--or even just a high-quality book of words--the DK Illustrated Oxford Dictionary is the clear choice. --Rob Lightner --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

The lexical content of this handsome dictionary derives from the Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus: American Edition (LJ 1/97), one of many single-volume abridgments of the massive Oxford English Dictionary published recently in its second edition. Containing some 75,000 headwords plus inflected forms, derivatives, and common idiomatic expressions, the new work offers clear, concise definitions, pertinent usage labels and notes, and phrases showing how certain words are used in context. The vocabulary includes some recent coinages such as "carjacking" (but not "mosh pit" or "moshing") and new meanings of established terms (the computer sense of "bus"). But the real story of this dictionary is DK's outstanding illustrations, which are both informative and eye-catching. In all, the dictionary intersperses about 5000 full-color photos, diagrams, and paintings, 600 of which are "feature panels"?large, detailed renderings of an object (such as "castle") or phenomenon ("rock cycle") that identify specialized terminology and greatly enhance the user's understanding of the subject. These illustrations will appeal especially to younger users, and although the dictionary is principally for adults, it is being promoted for use by children as young as nine or ten. One caveat for those who would introduce the dictionary to young children: it does include the standard four-letter vulgarities, all appropriately labeled "coarse slang."?Ken Kister, author of "Kister's Best Dictionaries," Tampa, FL
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 1008 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1st edition (July 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789463679
• ISBN-13: 978-0789463678
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.2 x 2.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,127,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars High production values and enlightening illustrations, October 29, 1998

By A Customer

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

The DK Illustrated Oxford Dictionary is both a great coffee table book and a very appealing reference work. The color illustrations and layout from DK are outstanding and will spur many young (and old) readers to browse through the dictionary. The text from Oxford University Press is not as successful and not particularly user-friendly for the young readers who would be expected to form the primary audience for this type of work. Although the definitions are concise, there are few examples of how words are used. And there are no etymologies. A more minor but annoying feature is the repeated use of the word "etc" in definitions. Overall, an excellent buy.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful Dictionary - Despite Minor Flaws., August 24, 2000

By 

J. Morgan "joelmor" (Millburn, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: DK Illustrated Oxford Dictionary (Hardcover)

The other reviewers are right: This is a beautifully illustrated dictionary, fun to browse and hard to put down. It really is great for getting young people interested in words and research, and fosters the love of learning. Although my daughter is only in the 4th grade, she enjoys this dictionary - which will really be more appropriate for her in a few years. But despite its overall excellence, there are a few minor flaws. For instance, in the printing that I have, the word "Mississippi" has been left out! Neither the state nor river is there - no listing at all. All the other US states are there. I found that strange, especially since all the pages are properly numbered; none have been omitted. The other minor annoyance was that when I contacted DK, the publisher, I got no response at all. These minor problems aside, the gorgeous illustrations in this book still merits 4 stars in my opinion.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A dictionary you will love..., August 22, 2001

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: DK Oxford American Dictionary (Hardcover)

I used this dictionary to look up a word on about the third day I owned it. I was delightfully surprised to find pictures! There are over 4,500 color images to give instant visual definitions and they help to bring unfamiliar items to life and they add a deeper understanding of the words.

600 illustrated feature panels also provide in-depth information on topics such as: technology, natural history, art and music. There are also hundreds of new words and phrases from voice mail to sport utility vehicle which gives an up-to-date appeal to this book.

This might just be the most authoritative and accessible illustrated dictionary of American English available today. With 187,000 definitions and entries and an easy-to-use thumb index...it is the only dictionary I will be using at home when I don't want to go look up a word online.

This work represents the collaboration between DK and Oxford. Oxford has published dictionaries for over 150 years. DK is well known for their visually stunning books.

The pictures really help to give your eyes a break from an overwhelming number of words and definitions. I especially liked the picture of the ocelot on page 565. On page 132 they have listed many of the main cat breeds with pictures.

I could not resist looking up: condescending...to see if it really didn't say what it meant. Only because the reviewer before me said it seemed to convey a different meaning. I guess maybe they only read Condescend. You decide after reading the definition....

Condescend: Behave as if one is on equal terms with (an inferior), while maintaining an attitude of superiority. or Condescending: Patronizing.

The Reference Section includes a Political Map of the World, A Physical map of the World, Countries of the World and their flags, The Night Sky, Measurements, the Periodic Table, Time Periods, Wedding Anniversaries, Birthstones, Time Zones, States of the US, Presidents of the US, Books of the Bible, The Living World (classification system), The Animal Kingdom (classification of the animal kingdom) and a section on Grammar and Style.

~The Rebecca Review