Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Indexed (Book Only Edition) [Hardcover]

Random House (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0375425667 | ISBN-13: 978-0375425660 | Publication Date: September 11, 2001 | Edition: 2 Sub

Essential for every personal, professional, and institutional library, Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, is the most affordable and comprehensive dictionary on the market. The book that Newsweek called "The best American unabridged" remains unsurpassed in clarity, relevance and coverage of new words.



Features:

• Over 315,000 entries
• Over 2,400 maps and illustrations
• 1,000-entry revised New-Words section

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Based on the Random House Living Dictionary Database, which strives to keep pace with the dynamic nature of the English language, this CD-ROM provides access to the complete text of the printed dictionary (315,000 entries). The definitions are supplemented by 2400 maps and illustrations (of average quality) and 120,000 American English pronunciations (both genders are represented). Searching is a breeze. It is possible to browse the alphabetical list or search by main entry, within the definition, or anagram. Searches can be limited to entries with pronunciation or a picture. Each word entry includes the definition, etymology, written pronunciation, date (or range) when a word or phrase entered the language, part of speech, synonyms, antonyms, and usage note, when appropriate. The words in the definition can also be searched with a right click of the mouse, and it is easy to save, sort, export, and print results. Unfortunately, the CD-ROM excludes several excellent and useful portions of the print dictionary, such as a separate section of new words, a list of words commonly confused, and a Basic Manual of Style. The Bottom Line: Libraries that can afford it should purchase the book and CD-ROM combination for $75. Patrons will find it comprehensive and easy to use. Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary is recommended to public, special, and academic libraries for its currency; the graphics are not the focus here.AEd Tallent, Research Instruction, Harvard Coll. Lib.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"Look no further!"--Booklist --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 2256 pages
• Publisher: Random House Reference; 2 Sub edition (September 11, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0375425667
• ISBN-13: 978-0375425660
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9 x 3.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #834,263 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

91 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a New Edition, July 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary and CD-ROM Version 3.0 (Hardcover)

This is an excellent dictionary if you do not already have an earlier edition, but this is not a new edition. It is an exact reproduction of the 1987 Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Second Edition, Unabridged, in a smaller page size, with six and half pages of "new words" in a separate section, and most of the original front matter and supplements (appendices) removed. Many of the "new words" are are new to this dictionary but not to the language, such as "wishing well" and "gematria," which the etymology says first appeared in 1685-95. The CD-ROM is a newer version (3.0) of the software engine than previous editions, but contains the same text as the book, with the "new words" and a few last-minute additions integrated into the main dictionary. In a couple of months, the CD-ROM will be available separately.

69 of 71 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The best dictionary currently available., January 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary : Indexed (Hardcover)

As far as I know, there are only three dependable UNABRIDED dictionaries of English language: Oxford, Webster's 3rd, and Random House. And I find RH to be the most practical one of the three. Yes, Oxford and Webster's 3rd are much respected by the scholars for their "nobleness." But Oxford is way too expensive and excessive in content for every-day usage, and Webster's 3rd is too technical to read and unnecessarily descriptive. That leaves us only with Random House. It's not perfect; it requires many improvements as some of other reviewers have mentioned here. But please note, it's the least expensive, the smallest, and the easiest-to-read unabridged dictionary in the market. People shouldn't consider this book as the most incomplete UNABRIDED dictionary but as the most complete ABRIDED dictionary. It combines completeness and convenience in one. This book will be great for people who find abridged dictionaries too weak in information but find unabridged ones too much.

Its etymologies and definitions lack clarity, however--RH should follow American Heritage in these aspects. Then it would be taking one step closer to being "perfect."

40 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Four star content, minus two for poor binding., December 2, 2002

By 

Rol (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Random House Webster's Unabridged Dictionary: Indexed (Book Only Edition) (Hardcover)

This big, heavy, thick volume is quite a good choice for someone looking for a fairly recent (fully revised 1987, compared to the 1961 Webster's 3rd) unabridged dictionary. The "new words" section at the beginning is a nice feature, if not all that practical, covering lots of new technology terms up to the year 2001. Their choices are a bit haphazard - there's an entry for ACE inhibitors, but nothing for MAOI, SSRI, or proton-pump inhibitors. But the new words section is not the point; it's the rest of the text that matters. It covers just about every word from American English you'll ever need, plus a good number of geographical and biographical entries. So why the two star rating? When I received the book, the front cover binding was already torn and separating. I think Random House may have misstepped when they moved from oversize library cloth binding to 9 x 11 hardback. Maybe it was just a printer error, but I think the binding on this volume is just not enough to support the weight of 2,300 thick pages. In addition, the innermost print columns are too close to the inside binding, making 1/3 of the entries difficult to read. I commend Random House for making an unabridged dictionary available at this price point, but if the book can't hold its own weight, it isn't worth it. I'm exchanging mine for a copy of the New Oxford Dictionary of English (available at Amazon UK), which should cover just as many terms, plus international English, in a more manageable size. The New Oxford American Dictionary is a similar alternative for American English.