Cambridge Dictionary of American English Book [With CDROM]

Most reviewers below seem to miss that this is a "learner's dictionary," meant for people learning English as a second or foreign language. For novice to intermediate students learning English, the CDAE is the best I have seen. In 20 years of teaching English in the U.S. and abroad, I've examined every learner's dictionary available, and used many in classes. This one is my favorite - good clearly written definitions, good examples of usage, helpful layout, and so on. It's actually quite good for anyone with limited English literacy. I've been using it for a few years with both ESL and developmental reading/writing student, and if there's a better dictionary for this out there, I haven't seen it. It gets lower marks from other reviewers for irrelevant reasons: (1) if you are looking for a CD, then look for a CD; don't buy a dictionary just to get the CD. (2) If you are reading stuff that has words like vicissitude and extirpate, it's time to graduate to a normal dictionary. Ditto if you're looking to make etymological comparisons. Congratulations, you advanced English-speaker, you! A good way to celebrate would be to treat yourself to a copy of Webster's 3rd New International or the OED. You'll find everything you need in there. (3) Yes, there are fewer headwords than in a standard reference dictionary, and fewer proper nouns and no etymologies - this is to make room for the clearer limited-vocabulary definitions, usage explanations, and example sentences, all of which are much more useful to English learners. (4) I hate to be impolite, but to compare a $20 pocket dictionary to the OED ($1,195) is just loony. ("This Camry is a piece of junk because it doesn't handle the way my Bentley does!") A good test of any learner's dictionary is not to look up obscure items like "extirpate" - instead, try the humble "get." If there are not at least a couple pages of definitions and numerous separate headwords for phrasal forms (get to, get up, get over) and fixed expressions (get with it, get a leg up) and plenty of example sentences, then it's of little use to the serious learner. I look forward to the new edition of the CDAE later this year.

This dictionary is nice, but if you are really looking for a nice reference, try the Cambridge International Dictionary. It is much better and more complete.The CD that comes with it has a slow application that consumes a lot of power from your computer (talking about Pentium 4!!!).I do believe the best combination as a reference is the International Dictionary plus an American Slang dictionary :-)

I have found this book an invaluable tool in learning American English as a foreign language (English English being my mother tongue). Fluency has eluded me thusfar, but I have noted a steady improvement, since using this book, not least in some of the more recondite elements of the American idiom. I mean, like, the other day this total dork is like, totally in-my-face, like freaking me out, and I'm, like, "whatever."

It is is helpful dictionary, but the CD is not good enough. It has some bugs. Some words can not be found for example;wolkie-talkie, and sometimes it becomes lock.

"A excellent dictionary that is intended to foreign learns of english. The publisher caught the modern approach on selling dictionaries: THE PAPER ORIGINAL VERSION AT A VERY GOOD PRICE PLUS THE ELECTRONIC VERSION all in a single pack. So, I anxiously wait for further publishing of other Cambridge famous dictionary: the Cambridge International Dictionary of English(CIDE)in multi-media pack. Most publishers have the idea that "electronic dictionaries" must coast a lot of money than paper version. It is wrong. Who bought a electronic dictionary intends to use it in a computer environment (obviously). If I am writing a letter on my word processor I will prefer to use the electronic version of my favorite dictionary. By other side, if I am reading a book and I find a unknow word I - for large - will prefer the traditional version (my computer spares 4 minutes for booting up). New age is turning old concepts on profitable gains. Paper version plusCD ROM, it works!"