What is a dictionary?

 

Dictionaries are alphabetical lists of words or entries. They differ in the kind and in the volume of information they hold. It is often necessary to consult more than one dictionary and more than one type of dictionary.

 

Where to find dictionaries?

 

Dictionaries are reference works and are therefore normally kept in the Reference section of the Library.

 

Types of Dictionaries

 

Language dictionaries

          Unabridged Examples

                    Random House Dictionary of the English Language (on order)

                    Oxford English Dictionary (423 O98)

                    Webster’s third New International Dictionary (423 W377I)

 

Subject dictionaries-- Some examples

                   A dictionary of psychology (150.3 C728d)

                   Historical dictionary of slavery and abolition (306.36203 K64h)

                   Chambers dictionary of etymology (422.03 B262c)

                   Dictionary of mathematics (510.3 D554)

                   Mosby's medical, nursing, & allied health dictionary (610.3 M894)

                   The new Grove dictionary of music and musicians (780.3 N532)

                   A dictionary of literary terms and literary theory (803 C964d)

                   Political dictionary of Israel (956.94003 R357p)

       

Biographical dictionaries-- Some examples

                   Biographical dictionary of American newspaper columnists (070.92273 B615)

                   Biographical dictionary of twentieth-century philosophers (109.2 B615)

                   Historical dictionary of the Shakers (289.803 D857h)

                   Biographical dictionary of congressional women (328.730082 F654b)

                   Nobel Prize winners (001.44 N744)

                   Notable women in mathematics: a biographical dictionary (510.922 N899)

                   American nursing: a biographical dictionary (610.730922 A512)

                   International dictionary of black composers (780.922 I61)

                   Dictionary of Literary Biography (809 D554)

                   The vice presidents: a biographical dictionary (973.099 V632)

 

Not only do we have dictionaries in paper format, but there are also many online dictionaries available. You may launch to these from the CCP Library home page.

 

Cambridge Dictionaries                   http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

 

Merriam-Webster Online                 http://www.m-w.com/