Oxford English Dictionary
Dictionary of the English language explaining history, meaning and usage. Also known as OED.
The authoritative source on the English language
What is Oxford English Dictionary?
OED is a reliable and trusted source providing information on the meaning, history and pronunciation of words across the English-speaking world. It includes variants from, for example, the United Kingdom, the United States and India, and can be used to explore differences in meaning and usage depending on region.
It is useful if you want to develop your English, find synonyms or clarify the meaning or use of a word. Word meanings and usage are supported with quotations.
Detailed descriptions of words
Each entry includes:
- Factsheet
- Etymology – including earliest known usage
- Meaning and use
- Pronunciation (with audio)
- Forms (from Old English onwards)
- Usage frequency
- Compounds
Borrow a dictionary
You can also borrow English–English dictionaries from the library. They are available on the shelves under the number 802.0.
See English dictionaries you can borrow in Libsearch
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Facts
3.5 million quotations from across the English-speaking world