Cambridge Dictionary of American English (Softcover + CD PC/MAC)

Learners and users of English everywhere now have the tool they need to read, write, and understand current American English. Based on careful examination of the Cambridge International Corpus, a computerized resource that contains 100 million words of current American English, and on advice from ESL/EFL consultants around the world, the Cambridge Dictionary of American English is the most authoritative presentation of American vocabulary as it is used today.

Exact, accurate definitions and authentic, full-sentence examples give learners the information they need to read and write more effectively and understand English more fully. The Cambridge Dictionary of American English CD-ROM, available with the book, brings electronic dictionaries into the twenty-first century with Weblike hyperlinks and advanced search functions. And the Cambridge Dictionary of American English Student Activity Book offers practical activities to develop learnersí dictionary skills.

Summary of key features

• Organized by meaning to help learners use English effectively.
• Guidewords help you quickly find the exact meaning you are looking for.
• 2,000-word defining vocabulary makes definitions easy to understand.
• 3,000 American English idioms, with clear definitions and examples of use, are easy to locate with the Idioms Index.
• Language Portraits provide in-depth explanations of difficult grammar, vocabulary, spelling, and punctuation topics.
• More than 40,000 frequently used words and phrases from business, school, technology, the arts, and everyday life are included.

CD-Rom key features

• Fully installs to the hard disk drive everything but the sound files
• Allows advanced searches on different parts of entries
• Lets you attach your own notes to any entry in the dictionary
• Gives spoken pronunciations of all entries
• Operates on both PCs and Macintosh computers

• Pentium running at 166MHz or higher
• 32MB of RAM
• CDROM drive 1x or faster
• Soundblaster compatible sound card
• Windows 95, 98, NT, or 2000
• 30 MB of free hard disk space for small installation and 300MB for full installation

• Powerbook or compatible computer
• PowerPC processor 60 MHz or faster
• CD-ROM 8x or faster
• Mac OS 7.6 or later
• QuickTime 4 or higher software to hear sound and display pictures
• 30 MB of free hard disk space for small installation and 300MB for full installation