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For more information: Ask a librarian! | (512) 974-7400
July 27, 2010
Wordsmiths and Wannabes – APL has got an online dictionary for you!
http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/databases.htm
APL can help you quickly find the meaning of a word, its full history, and translations into several different languages with one of our online dictionaries.
Oxford Dictionaries Online is ideal for quickly checking the meaning of a word, its spelling, and synonyms. Each definition includes a pronunciation guide with audio and a sample sentence. You can link to more example sentences, a thesaurus entry, usage, the full history of the word, and translations in Chinese French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. Oxford Dictionaries Online includes a writing skills section with clear, straightforward guidance and tips for good English writing, from spelling rules and tricky grammar points to how to avoid jargon. The section for Writers and Editors offers authoritative resources for professional writers, editors, proofreaders, and anyone who prepares written copy for publication. Oxford Dictionaries Online is a good place to start your word search since it provides links to the other Oxford dictionary databases described below.
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has been documenting the history of the English language since 1857. The OED offers much more than your standard desk dictionary – the print version has 23 volumes. The online version contains more than 615,000 words and is updated quarterly with more than 1,800 new and revised words. In addition to a definition, each word entry gives the pronunciation, current British and U.S. spellings and historical spellings, the etymology or history of the word, quotations that illustrate the use of the word through time, including the first known use of the word in written English, and a date chart illustrating the usage.
Oxford Language Dictionaries Online features fully searchable, completely comprehensive bilingual dictionaries, and unique study materials that provide extra help with learning and using languages. Offering over 4 million words, phrases and translations in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and Chinese, OLDO also features native speaker audio pronunciation - allowing you to hear how words actually sound.
All the dictionaries are available to everyone at all Austin Public Library locations. APL cardholders can access them 24 hours a day from home or office computers. To find out more call 512-974-7400.
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Please direct press inquiries to:
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Public Information Specialist
Austin Public Library
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