The OALD is a classic and a masterpiece of lexicography. It was the first dictionary to be written for language learners, but it has evolved constantly and is in the avant-garde of dictionary making: in particular, embracing new techniques from corpus linguistics.

Language learners need different information to native speakers. This includes special help with prepositions, verb forms, collocation and language context generally. The OALD presents this information in a clear and rich way.

Stop Press: There is a new, seventh, edition of OALD now out. This page will be revised shortly and the links have already been updated. Links apart, the information on this page still refers to oald6.

It comes in a complete range of formats: hardback; paperback; on-line; CD-ROM; Genie (quick-consultation, small-interface electronic version). These are explained below.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Sixth Edition
Oxford University Press

ISBNs
Hardback 0-19-431424-3
Paperback 0-19-431510-X

Intermediate and above

The paper version of the OALD comes in both hard and paperback. Get the hardback version if you can, but the usual combination now sold in Italy is paperback sold with a free Genie CD-ROM.

The OALD on-line can be consulted free. And the entire text of the standard dictionary is available for consultation. There are also some nice features including the 'News Reader' section where you can choose a recent topical article and double-click on any word to see the definition on screen.

The OALD on CD-ROM (discontinued) is a stand-alone product (ISBN 0-19-436795-9) which is sold separately from the paper version. Again the text is the same, but there are a number of additional features including an experimental '3-D search' and some excellent exercises. More details in Learner's dictionaries on CD-ROM.

The Genie CD-ROM (replaced in OALD7 by Compass CD-ROM) comes with some paper versions (and there is also a combined OALD and Collocations Genie for sale).

This program gives the entire text of the OALD in this small interface for quick consultation. Passing your mouse over text calls up the definitions automatically (i.e. without clicking). This is very useful if you read English on the internet. Clicking on the speaker symbol gives you the pronunciation of the headword. Genie can be installed completely on your hard disk. More details in Quick consultation dictionaries.