This version of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Eleventh Edition, is burgundy leather-look, and thumb-notched. For this new edition, America’s largest staff of lexicographers made more than 100,000 changes and added more than 10,000 new words and senses, such as 'convergence', 'Frankenfood', 'phat', 'psyops', and 'vermiculture'. The Eleventh Edition, with over 225,000 definitions, also features more than 40,000 usage examples — more than ever before — which clarify confused or disputed terms. Additionally, thousands of phrases and idioms help distinguish vocabulary for language learners. Special sections include A Handbook of Style, An Essay on the English Language, and Signs and Symbols. Over 55 million copies of Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary have been sold, spanning a time period of over 100 years. Includes an electronic version of the dictionary and a free one-year online subscription.
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*Starred Review* The first Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (M-W) was published in 1898, and the tenth edition had a copyright date of 1993. The eleventh edition brings many new words, a CD-ROM, and a free one-year subscription to Merriam-Webster Collegiate.com, which includes the text of the dictionary as well as the Collegiate Thesaurus, Collegiate Encyclopedia, and Merriam-Webster's Spanish-English Dictionary.
Now for the numbers. M-W has a paper file of 15,700,000 citations from which their lexicographers chose 10,000 new words, for a total of 165,000 entries and 225,000 definitions. There are 100,000 "changes" from the tenth edition. Users asked for more usage examples and idioms and phrases, so there are now 40,000 examples and a "significant" increase in idioms. There are 91,000 pronunciations, 33,000 etymologies, 2,700 illustrative quotations, 650 foreign words and phrases, and 700 illustrations.
As the world rushes on, so does the time taken for words to become accepted. It used to be at least ten years before a new word was considered for inclusion; now it may take as few as four years. M-W staff certainly have become the purveyors of the words that we use. Terms added to this edition include Botox, comb-over, crunch-exercise, dead-cat bounce, dead presidents, dead tree, def, exfoliant, gimme cap, identity theft, phat, and tweener. As would be expected, some entries had to be eliminated because words are invented faster than they go out of favor. Anyone seeking definitions of record changer and pantdress will need an unabridged or older dictionary.
M-W still includes separate sections for geographical and biographical names, but abbreviations are now interfiled in the main section. Perhaps the next edition will interfile the other two sections.
Criticisms of the eleventh edition are mostly cosmetic. The use of photographs and shaded boxes for usage notes would make it more attractive to users. There are, however, more than 200 new black-and-white line drawings. The Col legiate Dictionary's closest competitor, the American Heritage College Dictionary (4th ed.), published last year, makes good use of photographs and illustrations in the margins. It contains a number of words (gangsta, goth) that are also new to this edition of M-W.
The online version has a number of search options, including a reverse dictionary (if you can think of the correct words), the etymology of words, and those that are the same part of speech. The most interesting option is the date feature. Paging through the words attributed to a particular year is a definite retrospective of recollections. Words of 1980 include balsamic vinegar, exit poll, NIMBY, and ziplock. An improvement to the online version would be a search button so the back button doesn't need to be used as much. It would be less cumbersome if the illustrations were included with the definitions rather than requiring another click. Because the one-year free subscription to the online version is only mentioned on the dust jacket, some users will fail to see it. Unfortunately, the free subscription is not available free to libraries or schools. One wonders if the CD-ROM is really necessary because it provides only basic searching.
For serious dictionary collections and fans of dictionaries from this venerable publisher, now in partnership with Britannica, the eleventh edition is a definite buy. With a list price of $25.95, it is a bargain for individuals. Libraries with limited budgets that purchased the American Heritage College Dictionary in 2002 may not need another college dictionary this year. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
Sets a high standard for future desk reference. --Library Journal
A road map to where English is headed -- The Village Voice
At last the ease of the Internet combined with the authority of a trusted name in reference. --BookPage
A road map to where English is headed -- The Village Voice
At last the ease of the Internet combined with the authority of a trusted name in reference. --BookPage
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
225 of 231 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a fine dictionary. It even smells good. Too hefty to be portable, it is nevertheless a perfect desk dictionary, starting with a seventeen-page explanatory chart and notes, an essay on the English language, and a guide to pronunciation. te volume continues with excellent definitions that are sometimes accompanied by b&w line drawings, and finishes with sections on foreign words & phrases, biographical names, geographical names, signs & symbols in various fields of endeavo, punctuation, capitals & italics, documenting sources, forms of address and an index. [..]
This is the most comprehensive collegiate dictionary to date, with many new entries since 1996's tenth edition, and it is well organized wih a nice clean font (though it may be a bit troublesome for those who are far-sighted). It always amazes me that we can purchase so much information so inexpensively. This is a terrific resource -- it's time to update your dictionary!!
This is the most comprehensive collegiate dictionary to date, with many new entries since 1996's tenth edition, and it is well organized wih a nice clean font (though it may be a bit troublesome for those who are far-sighted). It always amazes me that we can purchase so much information so inexpensively. This is a terrific resource -- it's time to update your dictionary!!
222 of 230 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
For several decades now, THE MERRIAM-WEBSTER'S COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY has served as the standard American English dictionary. I have done a good deal of copyediting over the years, and every publisher I have worked with has specified this dictionary (along with the Webster's Unabridged) as the standard governoring the way that American English words are spells and defined. Although one can feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of dictionaries in the reference section of any good bookstore, this volume is as close to authoritative as we have in the United States. One might have a preference for another, but this is the only one that enjoys widespread authoritative acceptance.
The dust jacket explains the ways that the new 11th edition has been expanded, but personally, while I am quite certain that it has been expanded, I have not noticed a great deal of difference from the 10th edition. It may be definitive and improved, but most of the improvements will be difficult for anyone to detect. The new CD-ROM included with it, however, is a vast improvement on the previous software that was developed based on the 10th edition. When the 10th edition first came out, CD software was not widely available. A CD version of the dictionary did eventually come out, but it was somewhat rudimentary. The new CD-ROM, however, is a huge improvement. For instance, when looking up any word, a column will display a number of words that approximate the word that your are attempting to look up. If you can merely approximate the spelling, you can frequently find the correct word. Furthermore, by double clicking on any word in the online dictionary, you will pull up the listing for that word. The CD-ROM also has a link to the Internet.
Let's face it. Buying dictionaries for most people is about as exciting as having one's oil changed. But like oil changes, dictionaries are essential. For the foreseeable future, this one is going to remain the definitive American English dictionary.
67 of 68 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
I recently purchased an I-pad hoping that it would save me some money on college textbooks. It was with great excitement that I downloaded the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary (Kindle Edition). Not only was it less expensive, it seemed ideal in the sense that I could search it using keywords and not by flipping pages. I am taking an editing course and my very first assignment proved to me that I should have purchased the actual text version, as the vast majority of the words I looked up, were nowhere to be found on this version. My instructor's print version contained acronyms and a variety of other words that I simply could not find anywhere on the Kindle version. I felt like an idiot. And these were just the first few words I was required to look up in the very first paragraph. A quick online search brought these words up immediately in the online MW free dictionary. But, I paid for this dictionary and it's supposedly the same version as the print, yet it's incomplete. Save your money and the hassle of having to buy both versions (what I ended up doing after the Kindle version failed to bring any words that I needed to look-up up) and just get it in print. The Kindle version will NOT have the same entries, nor even the entire dictionary including appendixes, keys, legends and reference material.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
yes!
This Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary is the ultimate dictionary for your learning needs. Let's be honest, most of us go through the day having to use simple easy to grasp... Read more
Published 5 days ago by B. E Jackson
it is not a complete dictionary you are better off with google
save your money it is no better than the default kindle dictionary. it fails to find words in older books and is not worth tbe money in the kindle version
Published 16 days ago by Benjamin Moeggenberg
Content great; binding cheap.
This, with the Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged, is the authoritative academic reference dictionary and it shows. Read more
Published 19 days ago by K. H. Acton
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary.
This is The Best Dictionary that I have ever owned. It is full of ''great information. I would definitely rcommend this Dictionary to all ages.
Published 29 days ago by Glenda Young
Really Good Dictionary
This is a really usefull item for people learning English and for the expansion of your vocabulary. I highly recommended it. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Brianda Gonzalez
Great American English Dictionary
PROS
1) This dictionary will have almost any word you're looking for.
2) The print dictionary makes reading less hard on the eyes. Read more
1) This dictionary will have almost any word you're looking for.
2) The print dictionary makes reading less hard on the eyes. Read more
Published 1 month ago by T. Salazar
Dictionary
It's not just a dictionary. If you spend a couple of half hour sessions skimming the back of the book, you'll be smarter than 80% of the population. Read more
Published 2 months ago by RG
Just like new!
I bought this dictionary used, and it was in very good condition. I couldn't tell that it had a previous owner, very impressed.
Published 2 months ago by Tracy Boson
Not compatible with the iPhone.
This is an excellent tool that I use for class and it works fine in the iPad. Unfortunately, it is not compatible with the iPhone and that was the main purpose I bought it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Arley H. Grajales
Words galore
I am so happy that I purchased this dictionary. I got a dictionary with my Kindle but every once in a while a word is not available in a small editon. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Book angel
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