Collins Robert French Unabridged Dictionary, 8th Edition

HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Points to Remember When Using Your Dictionary

1. Words can have several meanings&8212don't stop at the first translation

In this dictionary, each different meaning is preceded by a letter in a blue circle. The most frequent meaning comes first. Where necessary there are labels (italic words in brackets) to show which sense is being translated. The noun key has meanings (a), (b), (c) and (d). If you want the key you find on a computer keyboard, you need to scan down the letters to (c) [of piano, computer]:

key /ki:/ 1 N (a) clé (f); leave the ~ in the door laisse la clé sur la porte; he holds the ~ to the mystery il détient la clé du mystère; the ~ to ending this recession la solution pour mettre fin a la rècession (b) (to map, diagram) lègende (f) (c) [of piano, computer] touche (f) (d) [of music] ton (m); in the ~ of C en do; in the major ~ en mode majeur; change of ~ changement (m) de ton 2 ADJ (= crucial) clé (inv) 3 vt (also ~ in) [+ text, data] saisir 4 COMP ? key ring N porteclés (m)

The French noun boîte has meanings(a), (b), and (c)--make sure that you choose the translation that fits the context:

boîte /bwat/ 1 NF (a) (= récipient) box; (en métal) tin; [deconserves] can, tin (Brit); des tomates en boîte canned ou tinned (Brit) tomatoes; mettre qn en ~* to pull sb's leg*(b) (= cabaret)* nightclub; sortir en ~ to go clubbing*(c) (= lieu de travail, firme)* company; (= école)* school; elletravaille pour une ~ de pub she works for an advertisingcompany

2. Words often have more than one function in a sentence

The word key can be a noun, an adjective or a verb. To translate key in your number, you need a French verb, so scan down to the verb section, which is number 3. The word fast can be an adjective (section 1): she's got a fast car, or an adverb (section 2): she drives too fast.

fast /fa:st/ I AD) (~) (= speedy) rapide; she's a ~ walker/reader elle marche/lit vite; to pull a ~ one on sb* roulerqn*; my watch is five minutes ~ ma montre avarice de cinqminutes
(b) [colour] is the dye -? est-ce que ça déteindra ?

2 ADV (a) (= quickly) vite; the environment is ~ becoming a major political issue l'environnement prend une place de plus en plus importante dans les débats politiques; he ran off as ~ as his legs could carry him il s'est sauvé ~ toutes jambes; not so -1 (interrupting) pas si vite!*

(b) (= firmly) to be ~ asleep dormir A poings fermés; to be stuck ~ &re coincé; to stand ~ tenir bon

Some words such as can¹ (= to be able) and can² (for oil, petroh are so different that they are treated in different entries, with the numbers to distinguish them. Some of these words look the same but are pronounced differently, such as lead¹ (verb) and lead²(= metal.

3. There are different kinds of verb

If you look up grow you will find that the entry is divided into two sections: VI (intransitive verb) and VT (transitive verb). A verb with no object is VI: lettuces grow fast, a verb with an object is VT: the farmers grow wheat. For the VI example the translation is pousser, for the VT example it is cultiver. Remember this distinction, so that you can go immediately to the correct section.

4. Phrases aren't always translated word for word

Look carefully at example phrases--they are there to help you get not just the word, but the whole sentence right. In the entry key you will find:

key /ki:/ 1 N (a) clé (f); leave the ~ in the door laisse la clé sur la porte

You might not have expected sur as a translation of in.

the ~ to ending this recession la solution pour mettre fin A la réession

Here clé is not used at all.

5. Use both sides of the dictionary

When you are translating into French you naturally use the English side first. You can find additional information on the French side. The English side, for example, tells you that one translation for to take out is sortir. If you then look up sortir you will also learn how to pronounce the word, where to find it in the verb tables if you need to form a particular tense, and whether to use avoir or être with it.

sortir /sortir/
/TABLE 16/
1 VERBE INTRANSITIF
2 VERBE TRANSITIF
3 VERBE PRONOMIAL

? sortir is conjugated with être, unless it has an object when the auxiliary is avoir.

6. Suit language to situation

The dictionary uses * to mark language which is colloquial, ** indicates slang, and *** indicates rude language. You wouldn't use colloquial language, such as my mates, in a formal situation. In French, boulot and travail both mean work, but boulot is colloquial, so would be unsuitable in a job application:

boulot²* /bulo/ NM (a) (= travail) work (NonC); on a du ~ we've got work to do; (= tâche difficile) we've got our work cut out; elle a fait du bon ~ she's done a good job; se mettre au ~ to get down to work; allez, au ~ I OK, let's get cracking!.* (b) (= emploi) job; il a trouvé du ~ ou un ~ he's found a job; j'ai fait des petits ~s I did casual work (c) (= lieu de travail) work (NonC); aller au ~ to go to work; je sors du ~ à 18h I finish work at 6 o'clock