Merriam-Webster's Visual Dictionary - 2nd Edition (Hardcover)

About the Book

This newly revised visual dictionary contains nearly 25,000 terms with dictionary-scale definitions; more than 8,000 highly detailed, full-color illustrations, organized by subject in specialized fields from all aspects of life; and nearly 25,000 up-to-date technical and everyday terms with clear, concise definitions edited by Merriam-Webster lexicographers.

Book Synopsis

Enrich the mind and discover something new with each turn of the page in this delightful book for visual learners, curious kids, or students new to English!

This beautifully illustrated visual dictionary incorporates nearly 25,000 terms and their definitions into 8,000 full-color illustrations of a wide variety of objects from all aspects of life.

• 2,000 new and updated illustrations, including many from the fields of technology, medical equipment, and energy
• Clear, concise definitions from the word experts at Merriam-Webster
• Eighteen chapters and 115 corresponding themes include a wide variety of fields including astronomy, the earth, human beings, the animal kingdom, plants and gardening, house and do-it-yourself, food, arts and architecture, clothing, science and energy, sports and games, and much more

The perfect book for work, school, self-study, research, or simple browsing.

Review Quotes

What is the difference between a briolette-cut diamond and a pear-shaped one? Where are cuts of meat found on a cow? What comprises a horse's hoof? All of these questions and so many more can be answered in this newly updated visual dictionary. Approximately 25,000 terms are divided up into color-coordinated sections, with 8,000 full-color illustrations. An index in the back helps to locate information, since the entries are not in alphabetical order. A great addition to a reference section, this book will find patrons and librarians alike using it for quick, colorful, and interesting reference. -- Erin Linsenmeyer, Booklist

Not since Saussure have signifier and signified been so happily in cahoots. Adding to the 2006 edition "more than 2,000 new and updated illustrations," the latest iteration of Merriam-Webster's Visual Dictionary is a wonder to behold. Divided into 18 "themes" including astronomy, clothing, society, earth, and animals this reference volume offers crisp, clear illustrations for each of its entries (and component parts), enabling readers to envisage cutaways of detail-intensive things like jet engines, toilets, synagogues, and honeybees, as well as more abstract topics, such as painting techniques, museums, and musical notation. While spatial limitations dictate the guide be less than exhaustive (furniture gets just a handful of pages), Corbeil and company do a remarkable job in terms of breadth and editing, interweaving bar code readers and URLs, as well as a quick study of roofs and a litany of coffee makers all without overwhelming readers or leaving them feeling cheated. Visual learners, curious kids, and those new to English will likely get the most out of the book, but even the curmud geonliest know-it-all will be mesmerized by this engaging and informative work. -- Publisher's Weekly