Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1103894 in Books
• Published on: 2001-06-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 862 pages

Synopsis
This pocket dictionary contains over 130,000 references and definitions. It also features many usage notes to give extra help with using English effectively and numerous word histories to explain where words come from.

Customer Reviews

Lacking a EUROpean perspective?
This book is not as thick as its Oxford cousin. Is this because a smaller font is used or because there are less headwords and/or shorter definitions? (Until dictionary publishers all use ONE transparent system for enumerating the contents of their publications, there is no clear way to see which gives better value for money. The Pocket Oxford 8th edition states that it contains 65.000 entries and 75.000 definitions. The Chambers Pocket contains 130.000 references and definitions. Very vague indeed! A difference of 10.000 with Oxford: less headwords, less definitions or a bit of both?)
Headwords are printed in a bold sans-serif font and the definitons in a serif font. Senses within the definitions are numbered, making visual navigation easy.
Usage notes in boxes give concise, but useful information where necessary. Flipping through the pages, I wonder if there are indeed "hundreds" as stated on the back cover.
If, like me, you are interested in word histories (however concise), then this Chambers Pocket is not for you. Word histories are few and far between - once again there are hundreds according to be back cover - and slightly less detailed than Oxford.
The definitions themselves are adequate and clear.
Maybe the title of this review has raised a question or two. The word EURO is in captial letters because in this "new edition" dating from 2001, the word EURO is not to be found. Quite inexcusable.
If you are familiar with the Euro and are not all that interested in word histories, then this book will be sufficient for your basic, daily needs. Otherwise consider the Pocket Oxford. Or buy both!