Random House Webster's College Dictionary (Deluxe/Red Simulated Leather) [Hardcover]

Dictionary (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1991 | ISBN-10: 067940130X | ISBN-13: 978-0679401308

Everything a dictionary should be--comprehensive, up to date, and easy to use--this superb reference features 180,000 entries in a single, instantly accessible alphabetical listing. Features high-quality, acid-free paper, gold-stamped cover, and the same superb editorial features as the regular edition. 800 drawings, maps, and diagrams.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The English language continues to grow--perhaps more rapidly now than ever. Dozens of new words are added every year, many of them coming from the worlds of science, technology, entertainment, and politics. As the editors of Random House Webster's College Dictionary note, "To record this vocabulary is the task of our dictionaries, since it is the dictionary that most succinctly yet thoroughly reflects a changing world."

Random House Webster's prides itself on producing the dictionary to consult for new words--although the idea of having terms like scrunchy (a fabric-covered elastic hair band), sequelize (to make a sequel to), and stork parking (parking spaces reserved for pregnant women and new mothers) in a dictionary may make you brux (clench and grind the teeth). Logophiles will enjoy the lists of new words by decade, from A-bomb to zonk (1940s) and active-matrix to yada-yada-yada (1990s).

This is no mere browser's book, however, but a very useful tool. Hundreds of line drawings supplement the clear, concise definitions, and the clean layout makes this dictionary very easy to use. A 40-page reference supplement includes a concise writer's guide, lists of commonly confused words, world maps, and "Sounds to Spellings," a table of spellings that can correspond to each English sound--handy if you know how to pronounce, but not spell, a word. Excellent essays on modern usage and "Avoiding Insensitive and Offensive Language" make this the perfect dictionary to take into the 21st century. --C.B. Delaney --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

In 1947 Random House launched its first dictionary, the celebrated American College Dictionary. Today, half a century later, the publisher is recognized as one of the premier lexicographic houses in North America, noted for its careful attention to new vocabulary, both standard and nonstandard. Fittingly, Random House marks its 50th anniversary in the dictionary business with these two major publications, both of which will be familiar to librarians. Volume 2 (H-O) of the slang dictionary, which adds about 10,000 main entries to the corpus, maintains the impressive quality that distinguished Volume 1 (LJ 8/94). The final volume (Q-Z) is scheduled for publication in 2000. This is simply the best slang dictionary ever compiled, and all but the smallest public and academic libraries should have it. The College Dictionary, a descendant of the aforementioned American College Dictionary, first appeared under its current title six years ago (LJ 6/15/91). The new edition is a thorough update, offering first-rate coverage and treatment of American English as used in the mid-1990s. For instance, "chat room" is here, as is the latest connotation of "closure." It competes well with other dictionaries in its class, including Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (LJ 9/1/93) and the American Heritage College Dictionary (1993. 3d ed.). Essential for most collections.?Ken Kister, author of "Best Encyclopedias," Tampa, Fla.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 223 pages
• Publisher: Random House Reference (October 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 067940130X
• ISBN-13: 978-0679401308
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,095,318 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Last Word in Dictionaries, October 2, 2000

By A Customer

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

You don't have to be a college student to appreciate this with-it dictionary. As a professional writer, I swear by it. It's not only useful for spelling and capitalization, it has proved invaluable in indicating when hyphenated compound words "graduate" to single words by virtue of their popular usage. (Examples: "head-hunting" became "headhunting" when employment recruiters began doing it; "email" is taking over the place that "e-mail" established; even "weekend" was hyphenated at first.) Accept no substitutes ... insist on the Random House Webster's College version. I buy nearly every edition of this classic, and I am always amazed at the number of new words it includes. I have also given it to friends, family, colleagues, and even my editor.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential dictionary for writers and college students, May 12, 2000

By 

Melanie (Southern, California) - See all my reviews

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

I write as a hobby and am a reference book addict. I own 10 dictionaries. I've had my copy of RH/Webster's for 3 years and have yet to find a word not listed in stunning detail. Buy this dictionary!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The latest college dictionary, February 19, 2000

By 

wangshunlai (Harbin China) - See all my reviews

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

The second edition of Random House Webster's College Dictionary first published in 1997 when it was the latest at college dictionary market. Then, the publisher launched an annual update program in 1998. The 1999 update have more than 207,000 definitions with more new words than any other dictionary. The new words in science, computing, business, society etc were comprehensively updated. I always go to Random house first because I find it always give me a satisfactory answer.