Dictionary Recommendation

dmg · 03-06-2012, 12:10 AM

Hello Everyone,
I'm hoping that someone can provide a recommendation for a comprehensive electronic dictionary that is not reliant on internet access. I own an android smart phone and a nook color. The nook's embedded dictionary is terrible! Android Market and Amazon Apps offer quite a few free and paid for dictionaries. Most free ones have been insufficient and I'm leery of paying 30.00 for OED from a third party software company, especially when the reviews have been poor.
I frequently don't have access to the web, so I need something that I can reference off line. Tap and hold on the word would be grand but not essential. I'm happy to work between the two devices since I carry both of them regularly. Additionally, I'm happy to pay a goodly amount of money for the dictionary so long as I'm assured it is comprehensive. Goodly meaning anywhere from zero to about seventy US dollars.
I've done some extensive google, yahoo and mobileread searches and I've come up with only complaints about dictionaries and no real solution.

The funny thing is I don't claim to have that great of a vocabulary or need for definitions of strange words. I do require that the dictionary goes beyond a third grade comprehension and isn't redundant. In example, I recently downloaded Mantano reader, which claims the ability to load multiple dictionaries. When I went to their settings I was able to download an English dictionary. I did and I pulled up a book and randomly clicked on the word "willows." The definition I was provided was the closest match "willowy" and the definitions provided were "1. having or bordered by willows. 2. lithe and slender." Neither were informative (especially considering the original context).
Sorry for the long message but I'm just hoping against hope that I don't have lug around a paper copy dictionary everywhere I go.
Thanks for any recommendations.
Dawn

carpetmojo · 03-06-2012, 03:56 AM

Umm... isn't you got on your Nook really that bad ? What dictionary is for gooodness sake ......

And surely you just need to try a few free ones till you find one that suits ?

Frankly I've found the Sony English, US, French and Spanish embedded ones fine for general purposes.
Perhaps buy a different reader?

mbovenka · 03-06-2012, 05:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmg

Hello Everyone,
I'm hoping that someone can provide a recommendation for a comprehensive electronic dictionary that is not reliant on internet access.

I'm quite happy with the Chambers 10th Edition I have; it's still the most extensive dictionary in ebook form I've found. But it seems they no longer sell the Mobi version, just an iOS app.

If you can deDRM an Amazon book, the Websters Collegiate might be worth looking at; the paper one I have is pretty good. Or the WordNET one.

And I see that the Oxford Dictionary of English 2nd Edition is available as a Kindle dictionary; that may be worth checking out as being even more comprehensive than my Chambers. Bit pricey, though.

But look at the free GCIDE dictionary first I'd say.

tdonline · 03-06-2012, 08:43 AM

Good luck. I had the same issue. I can't believe BN doesn't have a good edictionary to sell. I find the Nook dictionary decent. I'm frustrated by not being able to access it freely. This is my DIY solution https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=160363.

I didn't want to pay for an Amazon dictionary that would have a chance of missing some of its functionality after a conversion to epub.

I recently found the 1981 unabridged edition of the Random House dictionary. The hardcover version with over 2,000 pages...Love it. Found it in a thrift shop for $2. I actually had the same dictionary when I was a kid (an earlier edition perhaps) which I got for free. Talk about going back in time. Awesome dictionary.

Penforhire · 03-06-2012, 10:56 AM

I have the Ultralingua English dictionary on my iPhone but I can't recommend it. In print my favorite is the condensed OED. If I wasn't reading mostly on my Sony 650 I'd have to pony up $55 to try the complete Oxford iOS app on my phone.

dmg · 03-09-2012, 03:50 PM

Thanks Everyone!
I'll check out your suggestions.
CarpetMojo - Yes, the nook dictionary leaves a lot to be desired. I'd say it can only provide a definition about half the time. Usually, I have to wait until I can access Webster on-line or Wikipedia.
Thanks again,
dawn

susan_cassidy · 03-09-2012, 05:37 PM

The Oxford iTunes dictionary is not the full OED, just one of Oxford University Press's shorter dictionaries. They don't give the word count, so it's hard to be sure, but it is probably simliar to, or the same as the Oxford dictionary that comes on Kindles.

Penforhire · 03-09-2012, 06:19 PM

They claim the entire "ODE 2nd edition" (see http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/oxfor...307233030?mt=8 ) but you're right. I don't see a word count for this edition, only references to ODE's word count, their data file size (as if they should brag about being a 'fat' app), and a sound file count.

mbovenka · 03-12-2012, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Penforhire

They claim the entire "ODE 2nd edition" (see http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/oxfor...307233030?mt=8 ) but you're right. I don't see a word count for this edition, only references to ODE's word count, their data file size (as if they should brag about being a 'fat' app), and a sound file count.

ODE != OED. The Oxford Dictionary of English is their largest single-volume dictionary, somewhere in between the Concise Oxford and the Shorter Oxford.

The Oxford English Dictionary is...well...the OED

03-06-2012, 12:10 AM	#1
dmg Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Nook Color	Dictionary Recommendation Hello Everyone, I'm hoping that someone can provide a recommendation for a comprehensive electronic dictionary that is not reliant on internet access. I own an android smart phone and a nook color. The nook's embedded dictionary is terrible! Android Market and Amazon Apps offer quite a few free and paid for dictionaries. Most free ones have been insufficient and I'm leery of paying 30.00 for OED from a third party software company, especially when the reviews have been poor. I frequently don't have access to the web, so I need something that I can reference off line. Tap and hold on the word would be grand but not essential. I'm happy to work between the two devices since I carry both of them regularly. Additionally, I'm happy to pay a goodly amount of money for the dictionary so long as I'm assured it is comprehensive. Goodly meaning anywhere from zero to about seventy US dollars. I've done some extensive google, yahoo and mobileread searches and I've come up with only complaints about dictionaries and no real solution. The funny thing is I don't claim to have that great of a vocabulary or need for definitions of strange words. I do require that the dictionary goes beyond a third grade comprehension and isn't redundant. In example, I recently downloaded Mantano reader, which claims the ability to load multiple dictionaries. When I went to their settings I was able to download an English dictionary. I did and I pulled up a book and randomly clicked on the word "willows." The definition I was provided was the closest match "willowy" and the definitions provided were "1. having or bordered by willows. 2. lithe and slender." Neither were informative (especially considering the original context). Sorry for the long message but I'm just hoping against hope that I don't have lug around a paper copy dictionary everywhere I go. Thanks for any recommendations. Dawn

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03-06-2012, 03:56 AM	#2
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Umm... isn't you got on your Nook really that bad ? What dictionary is for gooodness sake ...... And surely you just need to try a few free ones till you find one that suits ? Frankly I've found the Sony English, US, French and Spanish embedded ones fine for general purposes. Perhaps buy a different reader?

03-06-2012, 08:43 AM	#4
tdonline Addict Posts: 309 Karma: 2644486 Join Date: Dec 2011 Device: PW3, Nook Simple Touch	Good luck. I had the same issue. I can't believe BN doesn't have a good edictionary to sell. I find the Nook dictionary decent. I'm frustrated by not being able to access it freely. This is my DIY solution https://www.mobileread.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=160363. I didn't want to pay for an Amazon dictionary that would have a chance of missing some of its functionality after a conversion to epub. I recently found the 1981 unabridged edition of the Random House dictionary. The hardcover version with over 2,000 pages...Love it. Found it in a thrift shop for $2. I actually had the same dictionary when I was a kid (an earlier edition perhaps) which I got for free. Talk about going back in time. Awesome dictionary.

03-06-2012, 10:56 AM	#5
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	I have the Ultralingua English dictionary on my iPhone but I can't recommend it. In print my favorite is the condensed OED. If I wasn't reading mostly on my Sony 650 I'd have to pony up $55 to try the complete Oxford iOS app on my phone.

03-09-2012, 03:50 PM	#6
dmg Member Posts: 23 Karma: 10 Join Date: May 2008 Device: Nook Color	Thanks Everyone! I'll check out your suggestions. CarpetMojo - Yes, the nook dictionary leaves a lot to be desired. I'd say it can only provide a definition about half the time. Usually, I have to wait until I can access Webster on-line or Wikipedia. Thanks again, dawn

03-09-2012, 05:37 PM	#7
susan_cassidy Wizard Posts: 2,251 Karma: 3720310 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: USA Device: Kindle, iPad (not used much for reading)	The Oxford iTunes dictionary is not the full OED, just one of Oxford University Press's shorter dictionaries. They don't give the word count, so it's hard to be sure, but it is probably simliar to, or the same as the Oxford dictionary that comes on Kindles.

03-09-2012, 06:19 PM	#8
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	They claim the entire "ODE 2nd edition" (see http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/oxfor...307233030?mt=8 ) but you're right. I don't see a word count for this edition, only references to ODE's word count, their data file size (as if they should brag about being a 'fat' app), and a sound file count.

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