MLA

Oxford English Dictionary Online

The Oxford English Dictionary is widely acknowledged to be the most authoritative and comprehensive dictionary of English in the world. It traces the evolution of more than 600,000 words over the last 1,500 years through 2.5 million quotations from a wide range of sources: from classic literature and periodicals to film scripts and pop songs.

OED Online offers:

  • Unprecedented access to the 20-volume Second Edition and three Additions series volumes
  • Quarterly updates comprising at least 2,500 new and revised words
  • Learning Resources provide invaluable materials to help integrate the use of the OED Online in the national curriculum
  • Extensive range of search options enables users to find fast and easy answers to questions such as:
  • Which words came into English from Urdu?
  • Where does “wheelie bin” originate from?
  • Which words came into English in the 1990s?
  • What was the original meaning of “skyscraper”?
  • When did “text message” come into the language?

Further information

Find out more about OED Online http://www.oed.com/

Take a tour http://www.oed.com/tour/step-1.html

Special features for subscribers

Add an OED Online search box to your library website http://www.oed.com/services/
Look up words in OED Online direct from any other website http://www.oed.com/services/

How to Subscribe

If you wish to subscribe, first take a look at the Model Licence (Word 92KB) and these amendment schedules:

Adobe PDF Schedule (PDF 21KB)

For pricing information please use the contact details below quoting MLA's Reference Online.

email: ged.welford@oup.com
Tel: 01865 354582
Oxford University Press, Online Sales, Room E104,
Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP

Latest News

Responsibilities transfer

From 1st October 2011, this site will not be updated, so please treat it as the static archive it is. This is because <a target="_Blank" href="http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/">Arts Council England</a> has now taken over museums and libraries responsibilities. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/">The National Archives</a> has assumed responsibility for strategic leadership of the Archives sector. Arts Council responsibilities will also now include the Renaissance programme, Museum Accreditation, and Library Development, together with cultural property services such as Export Licensing and the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. The National Archives has assumed responsibility for providing strategic leadership to the archives sector and advising government on its development. The MLA is now winding down, with a skeleton staff remaining until May 2012 to complete the management of existing Renaissance contracts, complete outstanding financial and contractual arrangements and prepare for the appointment of a liquidator. This website will remain live until 31st March so that the public still has full access to the material on it – good practice case studies, toolkits, guidance and a range of other publications.  Continue reading

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    Including The Guardian and Observer; Daily Mirror and Daily Express; NewsUK and more

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