Press Release
March 2002

• A new dictionary CD-ROM developed with a new printed dictionary

• Over 100,000 references and 80,000 examples of words in use

• More entries than any other English learners’ dictionary

• Up-to-date information on new words, spoken English and changes in meaning

• Over 1,000 illustrated words, many in full colour, with ‘hot spots’ explaining parts of an object

EASY TO USE

• Familiar and easy-to-use interface

• Special guided tour to take new users through features

• Click on menus in long entries to get to the right meaning fast

• New Quicksearch technology allows for even faster access to words

• Immediate explanations while you move cursor over words on the Internet, in e-mail or in word documents.

PRONUNCIATION PRACTICE

• More pronunciations than in any other learners' dictionary

• British and American pronunciations included

• Pronunciation practice using the 'listen-speak-compare' method

• Extra help on difficult sounds with special Sound Search button

LEARNING AND TEACHING ENGLISH

• Extra search facilities for finding and collecting words throughout the dictionary

• Explore colour maps and language study pages

• Create your own wordlists and add your own notes in your language next to difficult words

• Learn with flashcards while you work

• Improve your spoken and written English by accessing the 7,500 most important words in the language

The key to learning the English language is recognising the 7,500 words that Macmillan have identified as being essential in order to speak and write fluently.

Although the English language is made up of over one million individual words, 90% of all written and spoken text consists of 7,500. The MACMILLAN ENGLISH DICTIONARY highlights these vital 7,500 in red, encouraging learners to swiftly grasp the core words necessary to speak and write fluently.

The MACMILLAN ENGLISH DICTIONARY clearly identifies productive and receptive vocabulary, recognising that there is a distinction between words necessary for students to learn and those that will appear but not be used frequently. The useful vocabulary, commonly known as ‘productive’, is treated in detail with information about its use, collocations and grammatical patterns as well as examples in use. The remaining, less frequent words, known as 'receptive', are dealt with in less detail.

The MACMILLAN ENGLISH DICTIONARY is a practical reference book for the classroom and home, offering invaluable support for those wishing to write and speak English accurately.