The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Current English

by Della Thompson

Grunge, nip and tuck, pesto, and chill out--these are but a sampling of the over nine thousand new words and phrases to be found in The Concise Oxford Dictionary , Ninth Edition. This new and updated edition of Oxford's best selling single-volume dictionary brings together the latest and most comprehensive research in current English, based on the massive and constantly expanding database of the Oxford English Dictionary . Containing over 150,000 entries and 230,000 definitions, the Concise boasts up to 25% more content than the previous edition to give users the tools they need to stay current with our ever-changing language. Each entry is written in a clear, straightforward style to facilitate ease of use.
New features of the ninth edition of the Concise Oxford English Dictionary include:


· Over 25% new material


· Over 9,000 new words and phrases


· 150,000 entries and 230,000 definitions


· The most up-to-date spellings, with improved coverage of meaning, usage and coverage based on a computer 'snapshot' of today's language


· Over 300 new boxed usage notes with guidance on good English by a team of expert lexicographers


· New, clearer etymologies with extensive coverage of idioms, phrases, and abbreviations


· Improved coverage of scientific and technical terms including the new fields of environmental studies and information services


· New words and phrases including: pan-fry, post-traumatic stress, body wrap, multiculturalism, Cajun, heli-skiing, and thousands more


· New, more up-to-date pronunciation system, representing today's received pronunciation


· Thorough international coverage, making the Concise a bestseller worldwide
The Concise Oxford Dictionary , Ninth Edition, a standard within its field, is the definitive resource for scholars, professionals, and general readers alike.

Genres: Reference, Nonfiction, Language, Dictionaries

1673 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1911

Reviews

[Dora · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another dictionary that meets my criteria for actually buying one: recently updated, lots of usage examples. This one also has a nice reference section, with interesting items such as: biological classification, a style guide, proofreading marks, major divisions of geological time (a good mix of sections you would and wouldn't expect from a dictionary).

I'm unlikely to buy another hard-copy dictionary since the information is so easily accessible on the internet, but it's nice to be able to page through a reasonably heavy tome and discover new information.

[Confucius · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Oxford and David Crystal I trust.

[Howierdg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm still using my forty-five year old 6th edition and even though I do sometimes wonder whether I should purchase a newer edition nothing has the same appeal.

[K Stasiak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my go-to version of this dictionary, though I have most of the editions up to the 10th, and also the ODE. I noticed that some words started having changed definitions from the 1990's ('mandate' was the word that set me on this thread of research, though I looked up many different words), which was interesting to observe, especially in the context of the world in which we live now. I find up to the 8th edition (1990) the most reliable, but use the more modern editions for comparison. It's also encouraged me to question whether newest is always best.

[i · Rating 3 out of 5]

Turns out the zebra did it.

[for-much-deliberation ... · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just about the best english dictionary I've ever owned

[Mark Mullee]

While in prison, Malcolm X copied the entire dictionary in longhand. All I have to do is read it.