Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

No other book on my bookshelf is more worn out. I use it all the time. When I started to study English I used to use an English / Portuguese (my first language) dictionary but I could only actually improve my English when I started using the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. The dictionary has lots of pictures (over 1700) for words that can be explained but for which a picture is much more effective like "hinge". The words have a pronunciation guide with a mark (') showing the main stress. There are many useful appendixes like irregular verbs conjugation, usage of numbers, punctuation, family relationships and a few colorful maps. Over 220 usage notes clarify the subtle differences among words such as dealer trader and merchant. Although it's mainly a British English dictionary the differences in spelling, use or pronunciation between American English and British English are stressed. By far the most interesting feature is the extremely reduced defining vocabulary constituted of 3500 words. The great majority of definitions are written using that reduced defining vocabulary. This simplifies the definitions and it's a great starting vocabulary for the beginners. The use of such a small defining vocabulary rules out the use of this dictionary as a thesaurus but the advantages compensate this drawback. My copy is a paper back that has been reinforced with adhesive tape. This makes the dictionary lighter and handy. I used to put it on my back pack and take it to all my classes when I started college in USA. The drawbacks are the need of an additional thesaurus and the fact that the entries are not syllabified. Nevertheless I would give it 10 stars if I could. Leonardo Alves - December 2000

PERFECT TRANSACTION!!! It IS brand new. Arrived in less than one week. My son bought this book plus CD for $15 from bellwetherbooks which we installed on my computer as well as his laptop. I ordered this same book at a much lower price of $4.00 without the CD. I love this dictionary. I particularly like the fact that it's paperback and very easy to open and fold back if needed. I keep it right on the coffee table in the living room. OK O'Reilly, I'm ready for any word you come up with!

When it comes to learning proper English, whether British or American, the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary remains a step ahead of the competition. I owned 2 prior editions of the OALD, and both times thought it could not have been possibly improved. I was wrong. The 7th edition is better and more useful than ever before. I really recommend going with the hardcover version, as one of my previous OALD paperbacks fell apart within a year. There is only one serious gripe that I have with this book. The publisher has removed the venerable Oxford University Coat of Arms from the covers of the dictionary. It was a famous and easily identifiable seal imprinted on all Oxford Dictionaries, and standing for their legendary lexicographic quality. The motto "Dominus Illuminatio Mea" (The Lord is My Light) paid tribute to the origins of Oxford University. As it appears, the publishers have become so neutered as to give in to the pressures of "political sensitivity". I am sure the Oxford University Press can come up with all sorts of feeble and catatonic explanations in defence of their move, but the lost respect is hard to regain.

This works wonders, thanks

This is something what I needed to further improve my English. And the price did not seem so excessive even though I have always paid a little more because my purchases have to come to Guatemala. I'm happy with my new purchase, I can imagine this book staying for a long time in my library and will still being used by my children or grandchildren in the future.

This dictionary has exceed my expectations. It goes deeper than I thought it would go. Idiomatic Expressions, Phrasal Verbs are Synonyms are really important in the learning process. In case you're looking for Advanced and Detailed translation... this is your Dic !!!

excellent

I volunteer teach in the library Literacy Program and bought this book for my student from Fiji. She loves it and carries it with her all the time. Although it's geared for advanced learners, my student is just reading English at about 4th grade level and finds this book very helpful. She uses it to look up words she doesn't understand and to learn synonyms and antonyms. She will still be using this book ten years from now when she's reading English at college level.

ＯＡＬＤは第３版から使っています。今回の改訂でCOMPASS CDが付いています。このCompass CDにはＯＡＬＤの内容とOxford Learner's Word FinderとOxford Guide to British and American Cultureが入っており、ＬＤＯＣＥ第４版のＣＤと同じような感じになっています。使用感はやはり米語には弱い感は否めません。米語についてはＭＥＤ（Macmillan）に軍配が上がると思います。語義の説明については好みの問題になりますがＯＡＬＤは第６版を踏襲したものです。第７版からはsynonymについての説明も約７０００語について説明されており、派生語についても重要語についてはWord Famimlyとして枠組みされています。収録語数は１８３，０００語となり十分ではないかと思います。私個人の感想では、やはり複数の英英辞典（ＯＡＬＤ7th、ＭＥＤ、ＬＤＯＣＥ4th）を併用するのが一番いいと思います。

Oxford steht so schon für eine Vorzeige-Funktion wenn es um die englische Sprache geht. Mit dieser Ausgabe haben sie sich selbst übertroffen wie ich finde. Diese detailreiche Fülle von Informationen ist schier überwältigend. Die Stichworte werden mit einer Fülle von Redewendungen beispielhaft erläutert. Rechtschreib- und Grammatikregeln sind ebenso Bestandteil des Buches wie die Top-Words (die meist gebrauchten Wörter) der englischen Sprache. Sehr anwenderfreundlich ist das Inhaltsverzeichnis. Schnell und konsequent wird zum Ziel gefunden. Bisher konnte ich alle von mir gesuchten Wörter in dieser Ausgabe wiederfinden und konnte immer hilfreich zufriedengestellt werden. Ein weiteres Highlight dieser Augabe ist die beigefügte CD, die das Buch komplett auf dem PC ersetzt. Damit ist ein ersuchen der Wörter möglich, ohne lange zu blättern. Die Oberfläche ist so gestaltet das einfach das Suchwort eingegeben wird, und 1-fix-3 die genaue Erläuterung 1:1 wie im Buch erscheint. Zusätzlich besteht am PC jedoch die Möglichkeit sich die Wörter auch vorsagen zu lassen um deren genaue Aussprache näher kennenzulernen. Ein "Must have" für den ambitionierten Sprachen-Fan, Sprachstudenten wie Schülern die fachspezifisch weiter ins Englisch vordringen wollen und müssen.

Je suis des cours d'anglais par le biais d'une association et ma prof, anglaise, nous a recommandé ce dictionnaire, nous disant que pour apprendre l'anglais, les dico anglais-français et français-anglais n'étaient pas suffisants et elle a raison. Il est remarquable, extrêmement complet. A la fin, il y a de la grammaire, du vocabulaire courant avec photos, et même des modèles de CV, de courriers... Par contre, je l'ai acheté en format broché et il pèse son poids, peut-être qu'en format relié il est plus léger !

Parece un buen diccionario pero viene entero en inglés, lo compré para un niño de 11años y lo he tenido que devolver, era muy complicado para él.

Best book for English learners