online dictionary (software?)

[guest]

Hey, can someone recommend a good online English dictionary or dictionary software? I am lazy to look it up in a book. :D I would like to ask about an idoim dictionary (what is "in a tow?" :p) as well, oh, and a good dictionary for words with similar or the same meanings putting together. I can't remember the word. see what I mean that I need a dictionary? :D

[Epyon9283]

http://dictionary.reference.com/

[Catgirls]

Google (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=idiom+dictionary+online&btnG=Search) » Dictionary of English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions (http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/) - Wiktionary.org (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Idioms) - Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/)

Just hit up any search engine for this information (Yahoo (http://search.yahoo.com/), Google (http://www.google.com/), Ask (http://www.ask.com/), etc...).

[Nidas]

http://dictionary.reference.com/

I've always found this one very good. Urban Dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/) is better for more colloquial words.

EDIT: Do you mean "in tow"? As in, "kids in tow"?

in tow
Under close guidance; in one's charge: The new student was taken in tow by a peer counselor.
As a companion or follower: came to dinner with a friend in tow.

Most commonly used as "(with) kids in tow" in my experience

[Shay]

Hey, can someone recommend a good online English dictionary or dictionary software? I am lazy to look it up in a book. :D I would like to ask about an idoim dictionary (what is "in a tow?" :p) as well, oh, and a good dictionary for words with similar or the same meanings putting together. I can't remember the word. see what I mean that I need a dictionary? :D

You are a Couch potato. You should Take a leaf out of Catgirls book.

Sometimes I make even myself lol.

[guest]

Google (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&q=idiom+dictionary+online&btnG=Search) » Dictionary of English Idioms & Idiomatic Expressions (http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/) - Wiktionary.org (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Category:Idioms) - Dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/)

I know about this one already. thanks.

I've always found this one very good. Urban Dictionary (http://www.urbandictionary.com/) is better for more colloquial words.

Really? I thought Urban Dictionary was more for slang, i.e., kind of rude, not just informal. Am I wrong?

I know these websites already. But I feel like they are using the shortest and simplest explanations, hence sort of incomplete. From you guys' suggestions, I guess they are the good ones. After all, you don't want that your dictionary is just a collection of God knows what, right? thanks, everyone.

[Catgirls]

Really? I thought Urban Dictionary was more for slang, i.e., kind of rude, not just informal. Am I wrong? Yes, the Urban Dictionary is mostly slang, but it does contain modern phraseology. It wouldn't be my first choice to look for older American Idioms. I know these websites already. But I feel like they are using the shortest and simplest explanations, hence sort of incomplete.I apologize if my original post came across as rude. Not knowing what kind of list you were looking for, that's about the best you'll find. If you want something more comprehensive, you'll want to check out offerings such as the Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms and the Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms (http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/): The Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms explains over 7,000 idioms current in British, American and Australian English, helping learners to understand them and use them with confidence. The Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms, based on the 200 million words of American English text in the Cambridge International Corpus, unlocks the meaning of more than 5,000 idiomatic phrases used in contemporary American English. Full-sentence examples show how idioms are really used.But as you said in your original post, you didn't want to look it up in a book. I'm sure a library would have a good resource. With a little more searching, there might be a better site on-line. The reason most sites might have short lists is because they can't just copy idiomatic phrases out of a book wholesale due to copyrights.

Cheers.

[Rich]

Merriam Webster Dictionary (http://dw.com.com/redir?pid=10247580&merid=77982&mfgid=77982&ltype=dl_dlnow&lop=link&edId=3&siteId=4&oId=3040-2279_4-10247580&ontId=2279_4&destUrl=http://www.download.com%2F3001-2279_4-10247580.html) it's not bad for a free program but if you buy 'em the better. i havve the "legal" version of Webster Dictionary, it can play voices and is pretty cool :)

[Azrael_Azure]

Hey, can someone recommend a good online English dictionary or dictionary software? I am lazy to look it up in a book. I would like to ask about an idoim dictionary (what is "in a tow?" ) as well, oh, and a good dictionary for words with similar or the same meanings putting together. I can't remember the word. see what I mean that I need a dictionary?


http://dictionary.cambridge.org/

This is a good dictionary.

I would also reccomend a thesaurus.

http://thesaurus.reference.com/


It still doesn't substitute just going out and buying one. :P

[guest]

If you want something more comprehensive, you'll want to check out offerings such as the Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms and the Cambridge Dictionary of American Idioms (http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/):
Cheers.

Thanks. sorry about that.

Apparently, a print copy of dictionary is still better than an electronic one so far. Oh, well. I can either wait for 20 years for the electronic ones to catch up or dust off the one I already have. :/ thanks, everyone.