The Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus

by Abate, Frank R.

• ISBN13: 9780195112146
• ISBN10: 0195112148
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-08-28
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Critically acclaimed as a unique new reference combining the best features of both dictionary and thesaurus, The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus was the first American reference work to offer integrated dictionary and thesaurus entries. Neither a dictionary nor a thesaurus can, by itself, provide the reader with the full range of word choices. Rather than forcing readers to flip between the thesaurus for synonyms and the dictionary for definitions, The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus provided a thoroughly integrated blend of entries from the dictionary and the thesaurus. Now this revolutionary volume is available in a convenient size and price that is perfect for the casual user. The unified approach of the Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus treats meanings and related words within the same entry, making it easy to find -- in one place -- an abundance of information about words, and provides a far more thorough analysis of the variety and nuances of our language than is possible in a dictionary or thesaurus alone. Based on the 1800-page Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus , the light and portable Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus is a valuable tool for students, writers, business people, and for anyone who wants to use American English with accuracy and flexibility. Fitting easily into a backpack or briefcase or on any student or office desk, the Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus is guaranteed to be the most frequently used reference work you own. To create this fascinating book, Oxford's American dictionary staff have drawn on the unparalleled resources of Oxford University Press, the world's most respected authority on English language and dictionaries. Founded on the scholarship of the renowned Oxford Dictionary Department's vast database, and newly edited specifically for the U.S. by noted American lexicographer Frank Abate, this convenient volume packs a remarkable amount of information in a small package, from pronunciation, definitions, syllabification, and idiomatic speech to lists of synonyms and derivative terms. Finally, The Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus also contains a wide range of valuable appendices, from the countries of the world and the Presidents of the United States to signs and symbols, the chemical elements, weights and measures (with equivalency tables), and much more. Concise and easy to use, up-to-date and authoritative, The Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus is ideal for home or office, for busy executives on the go, and for students of all levels. Combining an comprehensive and thoroughly reliable dictionary of American English with full thesaurus coverage, this is an essential tool for anyone who wants to write with more variety, color, and precision.

Author Biography

About the Editor:
Frank Abate is a Connecticut-based lexicographer whose credits include more than 20 different dictionaries. Recently, he was Managing Editor for The Oxford Desk Dictionary, American Edition and The Oxford Dictionary and Thesaurus, and served as special consultant for U.S. usage on The Concise Oxford Dictionary, Ninth Edition.

Table of Contents

Preface	vii	(2)
How to use the Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus	ix	(2)
Abbreviations	xi	(3)
Key to the pronunciations	xiv
Oxford Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus	1-938	(937)
Special Reference Sections	939
Signs and Symbols	941	(1)
Mathematical Notation	942	(1)
Heat Index/Wind Chill	943	(1)
Standard Weights and Measures with Metric Equivalents	944	(1)
Metric Weights and Measures with Standard Equivalents	945	(1)
Arabic and Roman Numerals/Multiplication Tables	946	(2)
Chemical Elements	948	(1)
Temperature	949	(1)
Time Periods	950	(1)
Wedding Anniversary Gifts	951	(1)
Books of the Bible	952	(1)
Presidents of the United States of America	953	(1)
States of the United States	954	(2)
Area Codes	956	(2)
Countries of the World	958	(6)
Easily Confused Words	964	(7)
Terms for Groups of Animals	971