How to use the LONGMAN DICTIONARY OF CONTEMPORARY ENGLISH ONLINE
LDOCE ONLINE allows you to use the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English Updated Edition to look up virtually ANY word on the Internet. The online version of the dictionary contains over 207,000 words, phrases, and meanings including 7,000 references to people, places, events and organizations, such as Madonna, Milwaukee, and Manchester United. You get an instant response!
And it is so easy to use
STEP 1 - Just type your word into the search box and click OK.
STEP 2 - That's it! The definition will appear in the window. To look at the dictionary entry you looked at just before this one, click the backspace key on your keyboard.
Here is a pronunciation chart to help you read the IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) symbols in the entries:
If you want to browse the dictionary alphabetically, click here
If you want to browse the dictionary topics, click here
Support
Take a look at the FAQs below to see if your problem can be resolved.
FAQs
How do I look up a word?
Which part of speech do I want?
What does the 'menu' button do?
How do I look up a person or a place?
Can I click on the word that I want to look up?
How can I check the meaning of a word in an entry?
How do I look up a cross-reference in an entry?
How do I look up words in my word processor or email program?
How do I hear sound files for the headwords or example sentences?
Which part of speech do I want?
What does the 'menu' button do?
How do I look up a person or a place?
Can I click on the word that I want to look up?
How can I check the meaning of a word in an entry?
How do I look up a cross-reference in an entry?
How do I look up words in my word processor or email program?
How do I hear sound files for the headwords or example sentences?
Simply type the word into the type-in box and click OK. The meaning of the word appears instantly in the entry window. If you are given a choice, it means that the word is used as more than one part of speech. Click on the one that matches the word you want (see below: Which part of speech do I want?)
Tip - If the word you want does not appear, check the spelling of the word. The LDOCE spellchecker will suggest words with a similar spelling.
When a word has more than one part of speech you will need to choose one before the entry will open. The word shown first is used more often in English, so try that entry first.
Tip - See the other parts of speech for a word by moving to the next or previous entry in the dictionary (see below: How can I go to the next (or previous) alphabetical entry in the dictionary? )
When a word has many definitions, the 'menu' button will help you find the meaning you're looking for fast! Click on the 'menu' button and a small window will open to show shortcuts to the many meanings of your word. Choosing one of the shortcuts will position that part of the entry at the top of the screen. Use the X icon to close this window.
In the same way - type the name into the type-in box. The meaning of the word appears instantly in the entry window.
Tip - If the full name of the person is given, type the last name rather than the first. For example, for Clint Eastwood type 'Eastwood'.
Unfortunately, clicking on a word will not look it up, but you can copy words from the web or an email and paste them into the dictionary.
To check the meaning of a word within an entry, just double-click on it and its meaning will appear. You can do this for every word in the entry - and for every word in each of those entries.
Tip - On the LDOCE CD-ROM, if you have it, you can do the same thing. Just click on any word and instantly get a definition of that word – or any word in the LDOCE CD-ROM.
Cross-references are displayed in blue, and link in the same way as any other word in an entry - just double-click on it and the entry will appear. If the cross-reference is two words, double-click on either word and you will be taken to the right entry.
As long as you are connected to the Internet, the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English ONLINE can be used to look up any word in your word processor or email program by typing the word into the box in the dictionary window.
Tip - The Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English ONLINE can also be used with many IRC or chat programs. You can instantly check the meaning of a word someone else has used, before replying!
Look up a word in the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English ONLINE that begins with the letter D or the letter S. Click on the speaker icon next to the example sentences to hear them pronounced. Click on the speaker icon at the top of the entry and a new window will open. From there, you can hear the headword pronounced in British or American English, and you can hear the example sentences for that entry too. Even names and places are pronounced, for example, Dostoyevsky.
Tip - You can hear all the headwords and example sentence pronunciations on the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English CD-ROM.
