Product Description

Extensively redesigned and rewritten, the second edition of Pocket Oxford American Dictionary combines its highly popular, pocket-sized packaging with a dramatic revision of the copy, with completely reworded entries throughout.

With more than 140,000 words, phrases, and definitions, including a wealth of new words, sample sentences, and usage notes, this marvelous edition makes it easier than ever before to find the correct meaning of a word. The editors have completely rewritten the entries, stressing everyday English to make each definition as accessible as possible. Moreover, they have used the latest evidence from the Oxford English Corpus--a vast database of some two billion words, offering an unparalleled portrait of our language--to uncover the most common and most important meanings of words and phrases in contemporary American English. The editors have also organized the meanings in an entry according to these findings, so that the most likely definition of a word occurs first. In addition, the Dictionary features thousands of real examples that highlight how words are used by recognized writers, and it includes hundreds of usage, grammar, and spelling tips based on evidence of real mistakes. Finally, the Dictionary boasts a new page layout, with a more open and accessible design, with an emphasis on readability.

This is an essential resource for people on the go, who need a portable and reliable guide to our language.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83370 in Books
• Published on:
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Dimensions: 1.97" h x 5.39" w x 8.02" l, 1.64 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 1008 pages

Review

"The layout has been improved from the 1st edition and features a clear, bright font and accessible format." --Book News

About the Author

Frank Abate is Editor in Chief of the U.S. Dictionaries Program for Oxford University Press. He has compiled or edited more than 30 dictionaries and a wide variety of other language and general reference works.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful.
Surprisingly good.
By Jon M. Nelson
I have this dictionary, along with the M-W Collegiate (8th ed.), the American Heritage Dictionary (4th ed.), and an American Heritage Desk Dictionary, along with a number of pocket dictionaries. This Pocket Oxford American Dictionary has a surprising number of definitions. I've found words in this dictionary that aren't in my M-W or A-H Desk Dictionary, and the definitions are clear and concise. It also has lots of usage notes that are easy to understand and are very helpful. This is a great dictionary, regardless of cost, and it's nice that it's reasonably portable as well. I highly recommend it.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful.
Has no roots
By S. Ramirez
This is a wonderful dictionary for the price. The reason I gave it 4 stars, it has no roots. You have no idea if the word is from Latin,or Old English.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful.
Very good
By Wei Zhang
I am a graduate student in NYC. Not a native speaker of English. The reason I bought this dictionary is because I felt tired with searching internet for some usage of a phrase or a slang. This dictionary is handy and really informative - it includes many frequently used phrases, and also provides some examples for explanation. Very good for me.