Random House Webster's College Dictionary

The English language continues to grow--perhaps more rapidly now than ever. Dozens of new words are added every year, many of them coming from the worlds of science, technology, entertainment, and politics. As the editors of Random House Webster's College Dictionary note, "To record this vocabulary is the task of our dictionaries, since it is the dictionary that most succinctly yet thoroughly reflects a changing world."

Random House Webster's prides itself on producing the dictionary to consult for new words--although the idea of having terms like scrunchy (a fabric-covered elastic hair band), sequelize (to make a sequel to), and stork parking (parking spaces reserved for pregnant women and new mothers) in a dictionary may make you brux (clench and grind the teeth). Logophiles will enjoy the lists of new words by decade, from A-bomb to zonk (1940s) and active-matrix to yada-yada-yada (1990s).

This is no mere browser's book, however, but a very useful tool. Hundreds of line drawings supplement the clear, concise definitions, and the clean layout makes this dictionary very easy to use. A 40-page reference supplement includes a concise writer's guide, lists of commonly confused words, world maps, and "Sounds to Spellings," a table of spellings that can correspond to each English sound--handy if you know how to pronounce, but not spell, a word. Excellent essays on modern usage and "Avoiding Insensitive and Offensive Language" make this the perfect dictionary to take into the 21st century. --C.B. Delaney