Macmillan Advanced English Dictionary (English Version)

Author: Compiled by Macmillan Education Limited
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2003-11-01
Features: The Macmillan Advanced Learner's Dictionary was just completed and published last year (2002), so it can be considered the newest English dictionary currently available. It not only reflects vocabulary updates but also demonstrates the new developments and changes in style, rhetoric, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics in its definitions. It is a dictionary designed for English learners, making its definitions accurate, concise, and practical. Particularly, its definitions are strictly limited to 2,500 common words. This greatly facilitates learners and avoids the burden of repeatedly looking up unfamiliar words within the definitions. The selection of words in this dictionary is based on corpus data. Core vocabulary is highlighted in red in the main text, and the usage frequency is indicated by one, two, or three red asterisks. For high-frequency three-star words with multiple meanings and longer definitions, their most common meanings are first listed in a table using concise language. Taking the three-star word CLOSE as an example, 11 common meanings are listed under its verb form and 17 common meanings under its adjective form, each not exceeding six words. This is clear at a glance and convenient and fast. The illustrations in this dictionary, in addition to two sets of color inserts (16 pages in total), include illustrations for over 1,000 words. What makes it particularly unique is that, in addition to schematic illustrations for general nouns (objects, etc.), special illustrations depicting actions are designed for some verbs that are difficult to express in words. This dictionary uses different markers in its definitions to indicate the stylistic features of each word, such as spoken or written language, euphemism or rudeness, humor or seriousness, old usage or new usage; it particularly clearly distinguishes between formal, very formal, informal, and very informal. This enables learners to correctly understand word meanings and contexts without misusing them. Another unique feature is the Metaphor column highlighted in red in this dictionary. It uses vivid metaphors and life-like examples to help readers understand word meanings more accurately and vividly. It is worth mentioning that this dictionary has a "Language Tips" insert. It concisely explains the usage of English in the early 21st century, covering discourse, pragmatics, rhetoric, style, word formation, and comparisons between British and American English; as well as many other aspects such as the characteristics of computer English and business English.