This book has been compiled by referring to the Bank of English,a unique database of the English language with examples of over 450 million words enabling Collins lexicographers to analyse how English is actually used today and how it is changing. This is the evidence on which the material in this book is based.

The Bank of English was set up as a joint initiative by HarperCollins Publishers and Birmingham University to be a resource for language research and lexicography. It contains a very wide range of material from books, newspapers, radio, TV, magazines, letters, and talks reflecting the whole spectrum of English today. Its size and range make it an unequalled resource and the purpose-built software for its analysis is unique to Collins Dictionaries.

The Collins Paperback Dictionary & Thesaurus provides two kinds of language help, arranged on the same page for quick and easy look-up.In the top section of each page you will find a dictionary text which gives help with spellings and meanings, while the lower section of each page provides a matching thesaurus with a choice of synonyms.

The dictionary text includes over 44,500 definitions and gives spelling help for all irregular forms of words. Pronunciation help is also given for words considered difficult or confusing, and up-to-date language notes throughout the dictionary text provide additional advice on using English correctly and effectively.

This new book also takes account of recent changes in the language,with new terms like cybersquatting, digital television, docu-soap, dotcom,DVD, e-commerce, GMO, twenty-four-seven, webcam, and webcast.

The thesaurus text offers 120,000 synonyms. The synonym lists are divided into numbered categories, each relating to the particular meaning of the word in the dictionary text, so that it is easy to identify the sense that most closely relates to the context required. In addition,the most useful synonym for each sense is given first and highlighted in bold type.