The Macmillan Visual Dictionary [Paperback]

Ariane Archambault (Author), Jean-Claude Corbeil (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0028608100 | ISBN-13: 978-0028608105 | Publication Date: October 1995 | Edition: Compact

One of the most extraordinary reference titles ever produced is now available in paperback!

Since its publication in 1992, The Macmillan Visual Dictionary has been heralded as the most innovative and graphically stunning reference work of its kind. And this remarkable volume certainly merits the praise: it provides full-color visual definitions of nearly everything.

Want to know the difference between curly endive and curled kale? Curious about the distinguishing features of various judo holds and throws? Wondering what each and every feature of a Gothic cathedral is called? The answers to these and thousands of other questions are at your fingertips.

The Macmillan Visual Dictionary identifies more than 25,000 terms with more than 3,500 full-color illustrations covering 600 subjects. Ranging from Astronomy and Geography to Combat Sports and Communications, from the Vegetable and Animal Kingdoms to Human Beings and Symbols, and from Architecture and House Furniture to Maritime Transport and Energy, the book's 28 chapters provide truly exhaustive coverage of the world as we know it. A usage guide, detailed table of contents, and extensive index allow for easy referencing.

As ideal for the family reference library as for the casual browser trying to identify that "whatchamacallit", the compact paperback edition of The Macmillan Visual Dictionary will continue to set the standard in reference works.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

With thousands of intricate and colorful illustrations presented in a browser-friendly paperback format, the new compact edition of The Macmillan Visual Dictionary is an easily portable follow-up to the popular hardback version. The dictionary connects each phrasing, key word, or key words to a grouping of finely detailed and descriptive pictures, all formatted into a series of sections assembled in an easy-to-follow index at the beginning of the book. With a depth that includes 12 kinds of mushrooms and 4 types of billiards, the Visual Dictionary also manages to keep a wide enough focus so that most anyone interested in contemporary life will find a section or two to capture their eye and attention--whether they're painstakingly searching the book for help with a research paper, tracking down a contested fact, or peering through the many vivid drawings for pure pleasure.

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up-- Clear, explicit drawings and diagrams provide either exterior views or labeled cutaways of a variety of objects. The entries are arranged in broad subject categories with a color-coded bar on the page to facilitate browsing, but some of the colors are very similar. Many subject areas are covered: geography, architecture, anatomy, plants, animals, satellites, etc. The last section, symbols, provides easy access for some of those hard to find reference questions. The table of contents lists the 28 categories and the types of items illustrated. The index provides access when one knows the term and wants to identify its use. Browsing is addictive: students will eagerly seek out sections on weapons, transportation, and sports. An important source that helps to fill a gap in most collections--there are many word dictionaries, but very few pictorial ones.
- Claudia Moore, W. T. Woodson High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 864 pages
• Publisher: Macmillan General Reference; Compact edition (October 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028608100
• ISBN-13: 978-0028608105
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #877,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars quite a valuable resource!, April 6, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Macmillan Visual Dictionary: 3,500 Color Illustrations, 25,000 Terms, 600 Subjects (Hardcover)

This past summer, I worked as a private tutor of English as a Second Language for students from Burma. While their English was rapidly improving, there still remained items which were virtually indescribable--it was difficult to match exactly their Burmese language with its English equivalents. We worked extensively on all aspects of the English language--from grammar, to comprehension, to writing and reading--yet a gap between our understandings of each other was still unfilled. I searched, desperately, for some educational tool or text which could facilitate our mutual learning; and to my relief, I discovered The MacMillan Visual Dictionary. I purchased it for my students as a gift, yet I found myself--a speaker of English for all my life--entirely fascinated and curious to discover the vast array of terms and items of which I had previously been ignorant! From all of the minute parts of an oceanliner, to styles of clothing, to biological terms of plants and animals, this book contained huge quantities of information which I had once known but had forgotten--or of which I was previously unaware. My students were thrilled with their present--to see their smiles when they discovered how easily this reference tool facilitated their acquisition of English vocabulary was extremely rewarding. I must emphasize, though, that this text is not simply--in the least--for those to whom English is a second language; there is something here for everyone. All those little nuances and intricacies of life, which we would always like to describe or identify but are unable--here they are named; here they are defined. This book is an invaluable tool for everyone to use; whether it be to learn more about the complex parts of the automobile, to identify weather systems, to describe a style of scarf or name the coating of a crayfish's body--for anyone who is a lover of language, words, and naming, this book provides endless amounts of knowledge.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Tool For Fiction Writers, November 2, 2002

By 

Stacey Cochran (Raleigh, NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Macmillan Visual Dictionary (Paperback)

This book has over 800 pages of visual items and then arrows that point to them and tell you what they're called. For example, on one two page spread an entire passenger liner ship is drawn with all the names of all the rooms and terraces and parts and compenents. just looking at the drawing inspires a mystery set aboard a cruise ship! Chapter Headings include "Astronomy" "Geography" "Farming" "Architecture" "House" "House Furniture" "Gardening" "Clothing" "Communications" "Road Transport" "Rail Transport" "Air Transport" "Weapons", and many, many more.

This an excellent tool and I'd recommend it for anyone who wants to know their way around places you might not already know your way around!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Whatchamacallitt on the thingamajig., March 25, 2002

By 

Robin Benson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Macmillan Visual Dictionary: 3,500 Color Illustrations, 25,000 Terms, 600 Subjects (Hardcover)

I used to design publications and what I love about this book is the amazing quality of the color illustrations. There are thousands of them and they have all been computer generated so the style and quality is uniform. Looking at the spreads, for example, on Airport, Downtown or Wind Instruments and the time and creativity involved must have been tremendous. The design and printing of the book is excellent.

The authors want this book to be as practical as possible, Indoor Games includes a page on hands of cards, a House Furniture page shows six different spoons.

Another reviewer has noted that this lovely book would seem ideal for those learning American English and also for anyone who is just interested in finding out the name of everyday items.

A similar treatment to words can be seen in the Dorling Kindersley 'Visual Encyclopedia' (at a very much cheaper price) here the images are mostly photos and as the name implies there is a lot more information about each subject.

Both books are a joy to look at and unfortunately this only points up the bland design and production of most other highly visual books.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.