Which PRINTED Dictionary???

[Saracen]

Okay, this is a bit of an odd one.

After a discussion with a friend, I realised I hadn't updated my printed dictionary in quite a while.

So I want to know, from those of you (if any) with recent and PRINT versions of dictionaries, which thorough, comprehensive dictionary you recommend, and why.

Just to stress it (again) I'm talking about printed, paper items, in book form, not CD references or online lookups. An actual book (or books).

Limitations:

High end limit : Not the 20-vol full, OED. £700+ is pushing my budget just a smidge over the top for this.

Lower end limit : My usage. I want a comprehensive dictionary, not a 'concise', or 'pocket', or such.

Budget : Unlikely to be under £20. Max of about £70, 'cos at that price, it'd be the 2-vol Shorter OED.

Current book : A 2007 edition of the 1400 page Collins Dictionary and Thesaurus, so it needs to be at least that comprehensive, and preferably, seriously updated.

And for those planning on saying "just go online", I already have the full 20-vol OED on CD. Have had for about 20 years. It's one reason I have some old legacy PC hardware. And, I have subscription access to the current full online OED.

And they're great.

I just want a book. Like I said ... weird.

Oh, and I know I'm probably looking at a small audience, on a tech forum, for a book form heavy dictionary, but there has to be a few other atavistic types out there. Doesn't there?

[jim]

I have the 2-vol shorter OED, and I'm very happy with it.

Would I recommend it? That's a harder question, because I've never owned any other one with which to compare it - or recently referenced another (apart from the 20-vol full OED once). It's definitely better than the concise ones, and in all honesty I found the 20-vol to be a bit over the top (e.g. in its full definitions of the verb, noun, adjective forms for every single word).

But I can't think of any situation in which I've felt like I made the wrong choice or been disappointed with it. The only 'criticism' I could level is that I bought the 2007 version in 2010, when it was fairly new, but obviously the 2007 version is not exactly that up to date now.

I suppose the closest OED competitor would be the Oxford Dictionary of English which is c. 2000 pages and 2010, so half the length but 3 years newer.

If you do have any questions about it, I'm more than happy to oblige.

[TheAnimus]

Hmm I'm not sure which it is, I'll have to ride my horse if I can find my sextant to navigate home, I think it's on top of the harpsichord.

In all seriousness is it 20 full CDs? That's mind boggling for just text data.

[Phage]

I would always go with the shorter OED, but I've found the Chambers to be perfectly acceptable.
http://www.chambers.co.uk/dictionari...dictionary.php

[neonplanet40]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-Engl...rds=dictionary

I use this

Why? As an English Teacher pupils always want to know how to spell obscure words to catch me out. This one is good for revision

[Zak33]

I like Longman

I think "Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 6" is th latest

I like the pronunciations in it. Very very good. In theory it's for Learners but frankly... with 230,000 words... it works for me as I am still learning at 45

Try it online first.. then buy it printed for about £35

www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Longman-Dict...porary+english

[ik9000]

OED, Chambers both fine. OED tables can be better for some crosswords if that makes a difference...

[Saracen]

Hmm I'm not sure which it is, I'll have to ride my horse if I can find my sextant to navigate home, I think it's on top of the harpsichord.

In all seriousness is it 20 full CDs? That's mind boggling for just text data.

No. 20 LARGE printed volumes. In other words, an impressive (if you're impressed by things like that) bookshelf or two of dictionary.

On CD, it's a single CD.

I've also got Encyclopaedia Brittanica .... on DVD.


Oh, and a CD collection of licensed PhotoCD photos, available for comnercial use with no further royalties due. When I say "collection", it's a 100 CD collection. How I yearn for DVD or Bluray.

[Saracen]

....
I use this

Why? As an English Teacher pupils always want to know how to spell obscure words to catch me out. This one is good for revision

I had the opposite experience at school .... an English teacher that used to win arguments by using words we didn't understand. When someone asked "what does that mean", he'd ask if anyone knew? If not, he'd assign it as an exercise for after class to look it up, and change the subject.

Then one day, I told him he was just being periphrastic and circumlocutious. He said "what?" and I advised him to look it up after class, and suggested Little Dorrit.

He gave me a VERY sharp look .... and his mouth twitched as if nearly smirking. To this day, I don't know if I nearly got the aporoval of a proud teacher, or a detention for being a cheeky wotsit. Or both.