Customer Reviews

The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus: The Ultimate Language Reference for American Readers

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As a publications editor, I use my dictionary many times a day. I have found this particular dictionary to be the best I've ever used (I wish I had owned this book when I was in grad school). The definitions are clear and crisp, and the synonyms are a nice additional check on meaning and connotation as well as welcome suggestions for alternate words. This book is a must for writers and editors; it truly is the "ultimate language reference." I bought a copy for the office and a copy for my home.

I did quite a bit of research before purchasing this book. I have returned to school and am pursuing a Grad. Degree in Psych./Social Services. If you are studying Philosophy, Religion, Physics, Engineering, English Lit.,and the list continues; or merely trying to express yourself better! This book is essential. If it's not in here, it's not worth knowing!

I own many dictionaries (including the unabriged OED). This is the one that is on my desk and used every day. It is useful, readable, compact and complete. Combining the best dictionary with an outstanding thesaurus, Oxford has produced the finest reference work of its kind available. Recommended for students, offices and anyone who is tired of juggling four or five reference books in "case you might need them". Clear the decks. This is what you're looking for.

Laywers are wordsmiths. In recent decades the art of legal advocacy has shifted from oral argument and trial presentation to written argument and exposition. In the United States lawyers are primarily writers, and lawyers must pay careful attention to usage and meaning. This unique dictionary/thesaurus is a welcome and very useful addition to the lawyer's toolbox. I have been using it extensively in my practice, and I find it to be the handiest reference book I have ever owned. Highly recommended.

During the course of reading a book with words I had neverheard, let alone read, I decided to make a purchase that I should havemade awhile ago, that of a dictionary. But I didn't want some plain jane Websters Collegiate, I demanded excellence. But, I also did not want to spend (much money). So I had some research to do. I really wanted an Oxford because of its long-standing reference status, so I focused on those. Of course the $350 9-pages-to-a-page OED was out of the question.. so I had to choose a lesser book. What I was looking for was extensiveness. I wanted multiple pronunciations, origins, synonyms, examples, tenses, obscure words.. and I found them all in the Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus. The book has clear type (a MUST in my opinion.), a clean layout, an insane amount of words defined, extensive definitions and synonyms. Until I purchase the OED one day, I am absolutely sure that this book will serve me well both in college today and in my life in the future. END

I don't think this book is really "step up from a collegiate dictionary" It's basically a collegiate dictionary combined with a thesaurus. The dictionary section is 1789 pages and has 18 to 30 entries per page. That works out to about 40,000 entries. That's actually somewhat fewer than the typical collegiate dictionary. On the cover, it claims to have "More than 200,000 entries and definitions." It seems to me that this is false advertising. Of course, a dictionary that really had 200,000 entries would take up most of my desk space, so it's probably a good thing that it doesn't really have that many entries.

The first edition published in 1995 combines Concise Oxford Dictionary with Oxford Thesaurus, has 1892 pages; 190,000 definitions, 300,000 synonyms and 50 pages of appendices. The second edition published in 2007 is based on Compact Oxford Dictionary(3rd edition) and Pocket Oxford Thesaurus, has only 1204 pages; 140,000 definitions, 240,000 synonyms and 44 pages of word finder in the centre pages.

I have to second all other three reviews posted earlier about this huge book . The Oxford Dictionary its probably the best dictionary out there and i believe that if an individual wants to explore words there's no other way then purchasing this trully exceptional book . I had two other dictionaries , but really this tops them all . A strong buy recomendation . 5 stars is all i am giving simply because there's no 6-star rating or higher .

This dictionary is missing many words used in America for example : luthier, passel. In fact I am throwing it out and getting going back the American Heritage and a thesaurus!