The Chambers Dictionary

The Chambers Dictionary, 12th Edition (Thumb Indexed) The dictionary of choice for word lovers Immerse yourself in the most interesting, authoritative, and helpful English dictionary available — the unrivalled guide for word lovers. Whether you’re an avid wordgamer or just enjoy revelling in the quirks and curiosities of the English language, The Chambers Dictionary is your ultimate companion. The Chambers Dictionary delves deep into all the glories of the English language, covering weird and wonderful words like spoffish, jobernowl, mullligrubs and humdudgeon, all the while ensuring it covers the latest developments in English. Meticulously researched and expertly written, the highly acclaimed Chambers range has been at the forefront of presenting knowledge and learning in an engaging and accessible way since it was first established in the 19th century. Over 620,000 words, phrases, and meanings First published in 1872, The Chambers Dictionary contains more words, phrases, and meanings than any other single-volume English dictionary.Rather than clog up space with lengthy definitions of everyday words, The Chambers Dictionary keeps them short, creating space for more intriguing, obscure, and historically-charged entries — from alizari through to zuz. Peppered with witty definitions, Chambers is a pleasure to read. Highlights gems of English English is full of words that sound great, or that you never thought would exist. Only The Chambers Dictionary helps you discover them. Unrivalled help for wordgames Chambers is the dictionary of choice for crossword solvers, Scrabble(R) fans, and wordgame enthusiasts. The new Wordgame Companion section offers crossword code-breakers, indispensable two-letter word solutions, top-scoring Q and Z words, and much more. What is new in this edition? New words Now in its 12th edition, the dictionary has been updated to include words and expressions that have entered the language in the four years since the last edition was published.Word Lover’s Miscellany The 12th edition includes a Word Lover’s Miscellany with list upon list of words to appeal to the English language addict: – words to impress and surprise – words to cherish – words that are extinct – words that merit rescue – words to use in Scrabble(R) and other word games – words to watch – collective nouns – useful similes …and many more Beautiful finishing touches: Ribbon The Chambers Dictionary is the only popular dictionary to still provide one. Why? Simply because people love them. Beautifully flat on a desk The Chambers Dictionary lies perfectly flat on a desk so you can read the whole page with ease – even into the spine. Strong cloth binding, gold blocking, beautiful endpapers The Chambers Dictionary is made to an incredibly high quality, guaranteed to withstand years of love. Foiled cover Foiling on the cover gives The Chambers Dictionary a luxurious aesthetic. Less cumbersome than other dictionaries Slimmer and easier to hold, despite the fact that it contains more words than any other single volume dictionary. And all without reducing text size. It’s a neat trick. Thumb index Only provided by Chambers.A standard version without a thumb index is also available (ISBN: 9780550102379).

Reviews of The Chambers Dictionary

"Chambers is the one I keep at my right hand" Philip Pullman "The Chambers Dictionary stands out like a baroque mansion in a city of faceless concrete" Melvyn Bragg "To look up a word in Chambers is to be able to unpack its meaning and also to marvel at its compactness … Chambers is an open door to words at their wittiest, most rooted, most revealing, and most powerful" Ali Smith "This fossicking for undiscovered jewels is, of course, one of the chief pleasures of a dictionary … A page a day keeps the doddypolls at bay " Jeremy Paxman "Chambers is the kind of dictionary with which people who like to play with words begin to feel an affinity. Its vocabulary is so vast and variegated that crossword fans find it a valuable resource." livemint.com, The Wall Street Journal "We shall not rest until every Independent reader is saying to him or herself, 'I wonder what 'humdudgeon' means. I must just go and look it up.'" John Walsh, Irish Independent "Scrabble players have traditionally used The Chambers Dictionary … Never has cursing been so creative" The Guardian "Chambers is the best one-volume dictionary from the wrong side of the Atlantic" First Things Journal "authority and reliability" Telegraph 'The 12th edition of The Chambers Dictionary is the most useful and diverting single-volume work-hoard available. It's somehow good to know that a zizel is a chipmunk' The Telegraph, Mark Sanderson's Book of the Year Chambers inspires genuine affection. Times Literary Supplement