Product Description

Now available together, the New Oxford American Dictionary, CD and print edition offer complete access to this unrivaled work. Containing more than 250,000 definitions and 9,000 biographical and geographical entries, NOAD provides the most accurate and richly descriptive picture of American English ever offered. The CD-ROM version gives dictionary users what they really need from an electronic dictionary--easy, intuitive interaction with word processing and browser software. The dictionary engine is user-friendly and unobtrusive, allowing users to save the last fifty searches and display the last five, automatically replace words in a document with the words you've found in the dictionary, search for words within an entry, quickly and easily print dictionary entries, and enter your own words into a customizable User Dictionary. These user-friendly characteristics carry-over to the print edition of NOAD. To provide unprecedented clarity, the entries are organized around core meanings, eliminating clutter and confusion, especially in longer entries. Rather than a litany of numbered senses, the structure of each entry plainly shows the major meaning or meanings of the word, plus any related senses, supplemented by illustrative, in-context examples of actual usage. In short, The New Oxford American Dictionary is designed to serve the user clearly, simply, and quickly, with a full measure of information value and precise guidance. Truly a revolution in the art and craft of dictionary-making, The New Oxford American Dictionary CD-ROM and print edition provide the in-depth and up-to-date coverage that all users need and expect--for reading and study, for technical terms, for language guidance. It continues the tradition of scholarship and lexicographic excellence that are the hallmarks of every Oxford dictionary. System requirements: PC with 166MHz Pentium-class processor; Windows 95/98/Me/2000/XP or NT 4.0; 32 Mb RAM; 80 Mb free hard disk space; SVGA monitor, displaying 16-bit color (64K, High color)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #984658 in Books
• Published on: 2001-12-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 2064 pages

From Library Journal
In this new dictionary, Jewell (editor of numerous Penguin Book of Sunday Times Crosswords) and Abate (editor of The Pocket Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus) offer an atypical layout and a new approach to presenting definitions and meanings. They analyzed words using computational tools and distilled the definitions into "core" meanings. In a definition, each core meaning of a word is followed by several "subsenses," which provide subtle pictures of how a word's meaning can change, depending on the context. In the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (LJ 10/15/00, 4th ed.), for example, 16 possible meanings are listed for the verb "drag," which has only four "core" meanings here. Each core meaning, however, is followed by many subsenses. Thus, one definition for drag is to "pull (someone or something) along forcefully, roughly, or with difficulty." Nine subsenses follow this one core sense, such as "take someone to or from a place or event, despite their reluctance" and "move (an icon or other image) across a computer screen using a tool such as a mouse." Entries include grammatical information, numerous examples of how a word is used, word origins, some usage information, syllabication, and pronunciation. In addition to defining words, this also includes people and places and, finally, a set of "Ready Reference" appendixes, which cover everything from word usage and punctuation to the elements, hall of fame information, temperature, and selected proverbs. This section probably lends itself better to home than library use, but the only real problem with the dictionary is that the pronunciation guide is found only at the beginning, making it difficult for the user to refer to it quickly. With black-and-white and halftone illustrations, this is not as glossily attractive as the American Heritage and doesn't replace it since there are words and definitions in one that are not in the other. However, with its unique approach to language, this is easy to use and provides clear, well-written definitions. Recommended for most libraries. Cynthia A. Johnson, Barnard Coll. Lib., NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
The New Oxford American Dictionary, (NOAD), may be competition for the American Heritage Dictionary (4th ed., 2000). Both of these dictionaries are a cross between a desk and an unabridged dictionary. They each have about 2,000 pages and more than 100,000 definitions.

The words in NOAD are taken from the 200-million-word databank of the North American Reading Program of Oxford University Press and the files of the Oxford English Dictionary. The entries are structured around "core" senses. Core is defined as "the one that represents the most literal use that the word has in ordinary modern American usage," which may not necessarily be the oldest or most frequent use. Core senses appear first in each definition, with related subsenses grouped under the core. For example, label is defined first as "a small piece of paper, fabric, plastic, or similar material attached to an object and giving information about it," with various other meanings (e.g., "the name or trademark of a fashion company"; "a classifying phrase or thing applied to a person or thing") listed as subsenses.

The definitions are clear and descriptive but still provide technical information when necessary. Some words are used in a sentence to illustrate meaning, although NOAD does not use quotations as the American Heritage Dictionary does. Pronunciation is given, but the pronunciation key is found only in the introduction. Following the tradition of the OED, many entries include word origins. Labels ("dated," "humorous," "offensive," "vulgar slang," etc.) indicate in what context a word should be used. As is now common in dictionaries, there are 5,000 place-names (Dan River, Eiffel Tower), 4,000 biographical entries (Lenin, Vladimir and Lennon, John, both with black-and-white photographs), and 3,000 proper names (Blue Law State, Organization of American States). There are line drawings of some items (dumbbell, gazebo) and simple maps of countries. Also included are highlighted boxes of usage (Hispanic, mental) and some encyclopedic information, usually a paragraph in length (Bronze Age, Paraguay). Current terms include cybersex (but not cybercafe), dot-com, downsize, HTML, and SUV. A ready-reference section at the end of the volume has an odd assortment of items--usage and punctuation guides, the Constitution, weights and measures, heat index and windchill temperatures, selected proverbs, and members of the Baseball, Basketball, Pro Football, and Rock and Roll Halls of Fame.

This dictionary shouldn't be confused with other dictionaries that Oxford has published recently--The Oxford American Desk Dictionary (1998), The Oxford American Dictionary of Current English (1999), The Oxford American Dictionary and Language Guide (1999), or The Oxford Dictionary of American Usage and Style (2000). To choose between NOAD and the fourth edition of the American Heritage Dictionary is difficult. The American Heritage Dictionary is aesthetically more pleasing, with color photos and maps in the margin. But NOAD, with the OED database behind it, provides a well-researched and current source of definitions of U.S. English and is $10 cheaper. For all high-school, academic, and public libraries. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"This new dictionary offers an atypical layout and a new approach to presenting definitions and meanings....With its unique approach to language, this is easy to use and provides clear, well-written definitions. Recommended for most libraries."--Library Journal "Utilizing the latest techniques for analyzing word usage and meaning, the editors have compiled more than 250,000 definitions and 9000 biographical and geographical entries in an accessible resource with a distinctly American voice....An understated presentation exuding precision ands authority, it is an essential tool."--School Library Journal [STARRED REVIEW]
"The gold standard of American dictionaries."--Providence Journal "The words in NOAD are taken from the 200-million-word databank of the North American Reading Program of Oxford University Press and the files of the Oxford English Dictionary. ....The definitions are clear and descriptive but still provide technical information when necessary."--Booklist
"Oxford's new dictionary not only examines modern American english vocabulary and usage, but presents a new model of how dictionaries may be written....A well-designed dictionarry, recommended for all libraries."--Choice

Customer Reviews

I'm a dictionary convert
This new American dictionary from Oxford is fantastic. I have the American Hertitage that came out a few years ago and I was pleased with it--it was an up-to-date version of the dictionaries I've always had. But when I received this dictionary I was astounded. For the first time I'm using my dictionary for more than a simple spell check.

First of all, it lists the most common use of the word as the first definition. This seems so logical it's bizarre that other dictionaries don't do it. I no longer have to browse through archaic or niche uses of a word simply because they predate the most common. It creates a whole new level of clarity. On top of this, the pronunciation system is extremely easy to use and the layout is clean and straight forward. It has the feel of a classic (illustrations and drawings only when it informs a word, none of those do-dads, distractions, and unnecessary photos that make other dictionaries look cheap but the makers think will make it look more expensive.) The usage notes are excellent, and there are more new words in it than I've found anywhere else--must be the resources of the OED and Oxford's other power dictionaries that the American lexicographers have drawn on. I actually find myself opening this dictionary and simply browzing.

It's also great with American words. I was afraid that it would be a British dictionary with an American cover wrapped around it, but that's not the case. Look up words like "trunk" and "roundabout" and see what you get.

I do have one criticism, and it's about thumb indexing. I'm not sure other dictionaries have this problem, but the thumb indexing is way off in places because they make the notches equidistant from each other and some letters are larger than others. What's the point of providing a quick finder tool when it's not helpfull

Still, this dictionary is grand. The first American dictionary that has met my needs and made me realize that a good dictionary is the most amazing resource I've ever encountered.

The Best One-Volume Dictionary Ever?
--- This, probably, is the one to buy. But decide for yourself...
--- The New Oxford American Dictionary (NOAD) may be regarded as the American translation of the New Oxford English Dictionary (NODE), published in England in 1998. A great many definitions are word-for-word identical between the two works. However, NOAD introduces significant improvements.
--- For example, NODE omits pronunciations for "ordinary, everyday" words, and as a result you get no hint as to whether "corgi" rhymes with "orgy" or "Porgie". NOAD provides pronunciations for all words, using a more sensible respelling. Furthermore, entries contain raised dots to separate syllables. Unfortunately, the dots are more prominent than the hyphens, which are mere flyspecks in both dictionaries even though that is precisely the sort of information a user might need.
--- NODE has no illustrations, which are abundant in NOAD. The crude maps are close to useless, and many pictures are mere eye candy, but some are worthwhile, for example the illustration for "pasta", where you may encounter "orzi" for the first time.
--- A great many NODE entries have been deleted, especially those for Indian, Australian, African, and some British English entries such as "gain-up", precisely the items that might send an American user scurrying for the dictionary. Proper names of British import are frequent casualties. On the other hand, many American entries have been added, including the New England beverage "frappe", but not "tonic". Wherever NODE indicates that a word is "American", that designation is omitted, whereas NOAD supplies "British" for other entries. Of course, the fact that a particular word is "American" will often be of interest and perhaps importance to an American user.
--- Spellings have been Americanized, and some entries, such as those for "corgi" and "Welsh corgi", have in effect swapped places.
--- Political correctness is sometimes apparent. Someone decided there should be a new entry "altar girl", which (mutatis mutandis) is a clone of NODE's entry for "altar boy". Someone else decided that the definition of "altar boy" could be recast in terms of "altar server", but the latter term received no entry of its own. The result is a curious lack of parallelism that might lead readers to suspect that altar boys and girls have dissimilar functions. Something of the same sort befell the entries for "chairman" and "chairwoman".
--- NODE's etymologies for "cola" and "Coke-bottle" may be regarded as adequate, but since NOAD deleted the entries for the trademarks "Coca-Cola" and "Coke", the etymologies no longer suffice. NODE has an entry for the archaic exclamation "gad", which NOAD retains, while adding an entry for the interjection "Gad" with virtually the same meaning. NOAD's deletion of the ballet term "chaine" is hardly complimentary. In the entry for "gigabyte", NOAD places a digit and its exponent on separate lines, albeit hyphenated. The introductory matter retains "homonym" in a chiefly British sense.
--- The cover claims that NOAD offers a "descriptive picture of American English", which often seems to mean they have not put themselves in the user's place. You will have to go elsewhere if you seek clarification of "chinks" as used in "Romeo and Juliet" or "Shakespeare in Love". If you read that Buddha was sitting under a bo tree and desire further information on this botanical specimen, you are unlikely to be enlightened even though NOAD has the information. If your mother says you have "hazel eyes", you will think her color-blind if you rely on the NOAD definition. For a generation, most Christians have celebrated "Passion Sunday" a week later than NOAD indicates.
--- NOAD is probably the first one-volume American dictionary to include such avifauna from our 50th state as "ou, o'o, iiwi"; it's the first to include the Madagascar birds "asity" and "fody", but "jery" remains to be discovered.
--- For sheer browseability, NOAD is outstanding. It's a great book to have at your side if you are the phone-a-friend for a Millionaire contestant.
--- All the above quibbles can be multiplied a thousandfold for this or any work based on millions of decisions by dozens of people. As the owner of more than fifty English lexicons, I would recommend this one-volume dictionary over all competitors. Consider purchasing it with CD-ROM (not available when I bought mine). If the price or size of this dictionary is beyond your grasp, a reasonable alternative is "Webster's New World College Dictionary", which incidentally gets "chinks", "hazel", and "Passion Sunday" correctly, while concealing the information for "bo" in the same way as NOAD.

What a dictionary ought to be!
The large size of the Oxford American Dictionary, the high-quality paper, illustrations, and font all present an aura that beckons the reader in. The logical arrangement of the senses and sub-senses are so much easier to use that this effort will surely set a new standard in dictionaries. The older format, that of plowing through numerous entries that are seemingly unconnected, is doomed to fall by the wayside, and not a moment too soon. Older dictionaries lack the intuitive usefulness developed by the team that assembled this most excellent dictionary. Having the Oxford English Dictionary, a Merriam-Webster, and an older Webster, there is no question for us that for day-to-day use, and for the times when one needs to more fully develop very specific idea, this work will become the one that most will rely on. Those who desire exactitude will be pleased, and those who are "looking" will be drawn in, perhaps farther than they intended to be. A superior product that is long, long overdue.