Web Reference Sources

@CQU Library

Dictionaries and Thesauri

A dictionary is a book (online or paper) that lists words & their meanings. The words might be for a language (eg. English) or a subject area (eg. Education). A thesaurus is a book (online or paper) that lists words & their synonyms (words of similar meaning).

This collection contains links to online dictionaries and thesauri of both generic and subject-specific natures.

Ask Your Librarian if you can't find the answer to your question here.

General dictionaries
Language dictionaries
Subject specific dictionaries
General thesauri
Subject specific thesauri

An asterisk (*) indicates that the resource is a product to which CQU Library subscribes and therefore, is available to CQU staff and students only.

General dictionaries

AskOxford.com

Searchable dictionaries and thesauri from the Oxford University Press.

Cambridge Dictionaries Online

Offers definitions and translations for words and phrases.

The Glossarist

A compendium of glossaries on various subjects, accessible by browsing subject categories or using search terms.

Macquarie Dictionary Online
* Available to CQU staff and students only.

This is the online version of the Macquarie Dictionary.  Provides definitions and usage of words and phrases.

Merriam-Webster Online

Online access to a wide variety of general and subject-specific dictionaries and thesauri.

Object Graph Dictionary

Contains word listings and definitions.

OneLook

A search engine for words or phrases, providing definitions and translations.

Oxford English Dictionary Online

* Available to CQU staff and students only.
 

This is the online equivalent of the full Oxford English Dictionary. The OED includes definitions, etymologies and quotations for all entries, and as well as searching for the definition of a particular word or phrase, you can search the fulltext of the entries.

Oxford Reference Online

* Available to CQU staff and students only.
 

Oxford Reference Online: The Core Collection brings together 100 language and subject dictionaries and reference works - containing well over 60,000 pages - into a single cross-searchable resource.

 

Language dictionaries

Aboriginal Languages of Australia

Online resources about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages categorised by type of resource and language.

Australian Slang Dictionary

Australian slang words and phrases and their meanings.

Bidirectional English-Japanese Dictionary

Definitions and translations of English and Japanese words.

Google Directory of World Languages

Alphabetical list of links to languages from across the world.

 

Subject specific dictionaries

AmosWeb Economic Glossarama

A searchable database of economic terms and concepts.

ArtLex Art Dictionary

Definitions for terms used to describe visual culture.

Australian Taxation Office Definitions

Terms and definitions relating to Australia's taxation system.

BuzzWhack: the Buzzword Compliant Dictionary

Explanations for popular terms and phrases.

ByteCraft Entertainment Glossary

Listing of entertainment industry terms and definitions.

Chemistry & Environmental Dictionary

Contains definitions for chemistry, environmental and other technical terms.

CQU Student Dictionary/Glossary

Seeks to assist students to understand Central Queensland University terminology.

Dictionary of Electronics

Electronics industry terminology.

Dictionary of Phrase and Fable

Reveals the etymologies, traces the origins and catalogues “words with a tale to tell.”

Dictionary of symbolism

Provides possible cultural significances of various symbols, and suggest ways in which those symbols may have been used in context.

Duhaime's Law Dictionary

Links to definitions for terms used in the legal system.

Grove Music Online

* Available to CQU staff and students only.
 

Offers concept, patterns and boolean searching for terms and definitions from the music industry.

Human Resources Glossary

A glossary of human resources terminology, definitions, acronyms and related resources.

The 'Lectric Law Legal Lexicon

Definitions and explanations of legal terms and phrases.

Medi Lexicon

Provides definitions for medical terms and abbreviations.

MedTerms

Quick access to hard-to-spell medical definitions through an extensive alphabetical listing

The Nonverbal Dictionary of Gestures, Signs & Body Language Cues

Terms and definitions relating to nonverbal communication.

ODLIS: Online Dictionary for Library and Information Science

A comprehensive resource for terminology used in libraries.

Oxford Dictionary of Australian Investment Terms

Terms and definitions from the finance industry.

Political Dictionary

Definitions for political terms and phrases.

Travel Industry Dictionary

Definitions of terms and phrases used in the tourism and travel industry.

Webopedia

Online dictionary and search engine for computer and Internet technology definitions.

Wordsmyth Dictionary - Thesaurus

Dictionaries for children and advanced learners.

 

General thesauri

Merriam-Webster Online Thesaurus

Easy to use thesaurus

Wordsmyth

Online thesaurus and dictionary providing pronunciations and synonyms

Roget's II: The New Thesaurus

Roget's Thesaurus providing synonyms and definitions

 

Subject specific thesauri

Australian Pictorial Thesaurus

Collection of topic terms indexing Australian Images

ERIC Thesaurus

ERIC education search thesaurus

Getty Thesaurus

Thesaurus for geographic names

MeSH

Medical Subject Headings Browser

CQU CRICOS Provider Codes: QLD - 00219C; NSW - 01315F; VIC - 01624D



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