OED
1 synonym for OED, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The Oxford English Dictionary, the largest historical dictionary of the English language, which records the meaning, spelling and recorded history of words with dated quotations showing how each sense has been used over time.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Oxford English Dictionary
How to use OED
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
according to the OED
added to the OED
the OED defines
OED entry
Neutral, common in academic and editorial writing. Always written in capitals.
Etymology
An initialism of Oxford English Dictionary.
Full origin of OED →Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the OED and a normal dictionary?
An ordinary dictionary tells you what a word means now; the OED tells you what it has meant throughout its recorded life, with dated quotations for every sense. That makes it a historical record rather than a quick reference, which is why it runs to hundreds of thousands of entries and millions of citations.
Is the OED the same as the Oxford Dictionary of English?
No, though the names are easily confused. The Oxford English Dictionary is the big historical dictionary; the Oxford Dictionary of English is a single-volume dictionary of current usage. They are different books from the same publisher.
Is the OED free?
The full OED is a paid subscription, but many public libraries and universities provide free access with a library card or student login.
