Research Resources:
Electronic Reference Sources:
Dictionaries
English Language
American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
A searchable online version of the Fourth Edition.
Cambridge Dictionaries Online
Designed for international or second-language speakers, this site provides searchable versions of Cambridge's Advanced Learner's Dictionary, Dictionary of American English, International Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs, International Dictionary of Idioms, Learner's Dictionary, and Dictionnaire Cambridge Klett Compact (English-French).
Century Dictionary
A complete searchable version of the first edition of the Dictionary and its supplements.
Chambers 21st Century Dictionary and Chambers Thesaurus
Part of Chambers Reference Online, freely searchable versions of the dictionary and the 1996 edition of the thesaurus, as well as the 1997 edition of Chambers Biographical Dictionary.
Glossarist: a Searchable Directory of Glossaries and Topical Dictionaries
May be searched by keyword or browsed by category.
Merriam-Webster Online
Searchable versions of the Collegiate Dictionary and Collegiate Thesaurus with links between the term defined and its synonyms. Also includes a Spanish-English dictionary.
Middle English Compendium [Rutgers Restricted]
Includes a searchable version of the Middle English Dictionary, a HyperBibliography of Middle English including all the works cited in the Dictionary, and A Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse.
OneLook Dictionary Search
A single search interface for an extensive collection of Web-based dictionaries covering art, business, computing, medicine, religion, science, slang, sports, technology, and a variety of other subject and general language resources including a reverse dictionary.
Online Etymology Dictionary
Compiled from an extensive list of identified sources, the dictionary can be searched or browsed alphabetically. A list of the abbreviations used in the dictionary is included on the main page, and a search engine for the site is provided.
Oxford English Dictionary [Rutgers Restricted]
A searchable and continuously updated version of the definitive English language dictionary on word origins and usage. Allows searching of the entire text of the dictionary including words used in the definitions, etymologies, and illustrative quotations; authors of quotations; and full phrases.
RhymeZone
A searchable dictionary for finding words that rhyme. Results are broken down by number of syllables, and allow follow-up searching for definitions, synonyms, homophones, etc.
Roget's Thesaurus
Includes facilities for searching either the full-text or the headwords from the 1911 edition of Roget's Thesaurus. The internal cross references are represented as clickable links.
Roget's II: The New Thesaurus
A searchable online version of the book by the same name, Third Edition, with category and alphabetical indexes.
Tododiccionarios.com
Links to dictionaries, encyclopedias, glossaries, and other electronic reference works in English or Spanish.
Urban Dictionary
A user written dictionary of slang terms.
Visual Dictionary Online
Search one of 15 themes to quickly locate words, or find the meaning of a word by viewing the image it represents.
WordNet: a Lexical Database for the English Language Cognitive Science Laboratory, Princeton University
From the Cognitive Science Laboratory at Princeton University, a searchable English lexical database listing hyponyms, synonyms, coordinate terms, etc.
yourDictionary
Includes a quick search option, plus links to hundreds of dictionaries in hundreds of languages; links to glossaries and dictionaries in many subjects; and links to translation and language-related resources on the Internet.
Foreign Language
Acronyma
Includes acronyms and abbreviations in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, and Portuguese.
American Research on the Treasury of the French Language (ARTFL) [Rutgers Restricted]
Includes a collection of classic French dictionaries including Trésor de la Langue Française and the various editions of the Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française.
Diccionarios
Links to dictionaries and other electronic reference works in Spanish or English.
Dicionarios-Online
Links to dictionaries, glossaries, encyclopedias, atlases, and other electronic reference works in Portuguese.
Dictionnaire de l'Ancienne Langue Française (IXe - Xve Siècle) de Frédéric Godefroy [Rutgers Restricted]
A full-text electronic version of Le Dictionnaire de l'Ancienne Langue Française et de tous ses Dialectes du IX au XV Siècle, published between 1880 and 1902, an
essential reference for medieval French language and lexicography.
DictSearch
A multi-lingual translation service that searches 275 online dictionaries. Input a word in a source language and retrieve the equivalent word in a chosen target language.
Free Online Language Translator
Translate a block of text, a webpage, or an email from English to Arabic, Chinese, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, or from one of those languages to English.
Lexicool: Directory of Bilingual and Multilingual Dictionaries
A searchable directory of bilingual and multilingual dictionaries and glossaries freely available on the Internet.
Logos: Multilingual E-Translation Portal
A multi-lingual searchable translation service. Input a word in one language and retrieve the equivalent word in various other languages; conjugate verbs; or use other features.
Omniglot: Writing Systems and Languages of the World
A guide to alphabetic, syllabic, logographic, and other writing systems with links to related language resources.
OneLook Dictionary Search
A single search interface for an extensive collection of Web-based dictionaries covering art, business, computing, medicine, religion, science, slang, sports, technology, and a variety of other subject and general language resources including a reverse dictionary.
Tododiccionarios.com
Links to dictionaries, encyclopedias, glossaries, and other electronic reference works in English or Spanish.
yourDictionary
Includes a quick search option, plus links to hundreds of dictionaries in hundreds of languages; links to glossaries and dictionaries in many subjects; and links to translation and language-related resources on the Internet.
Acronyms and Abbreviations
Abbreviations.com
Search by acronym or abbreviation, do a reverse lookup to retrieve an acronym or abbreviation, or search by a word in the definition. Acronyms and abbreviations can also be browsed by category.
Acronym Finder
A searchable database containing common acronyms, abbreviations, and initialisms about all subjects. Search results are divided into broad categories such as information technology; military and government; business and finance; science and medicine; organizations and schools; and slang, chat, & pop culture.
Acronyma
Includes acronyms and abbreviations in English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Italian, and Portuguese.
Acronyms and Initialisms for Health Information Resources
Acronyms for global information and data resources in health, medical, and veterinary sciences with links to selected related Web resources.
All Acronyms
Search or browse for "acronyms, initialisms, alphabetisms and other abbreviations."
Babel: A Glossary of Computer Oriented Abbreviations and Acronyms
An extensive alphabetical list of acronyms and abbreviations which apply to personal computers, multimedia, communications, programming, networking, and related topics. Appendix C is a list of Country Domain Names and abbreviations.
DOD Dictionary of Military Terms
From the U.S. Department of Defense, the dictionary also links to separate sections on Acronyms & Abbreviations and NATO Only Terms.
FileInfo.com
Billed as "the definitive resource for information about file
extensions and file types," each entry contains information about the
file format, a description of the file, and how to open the file.
FILExt: The File Extension Source
A searchable database of file extensions and the programs that use them.
FOLDOC: Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing
A searchable dictionary of acronyms, jargon, programming languages, tools, architecture, operating systems, networking, theory, conventions, standards, mathematics, telecoms, electronics, institutions, companies, projects, products, history, and in fact anything to do with computing.
Genamics JournalSeek
A database of freely available journal information including descriptions, journal abbreviations, journal homepage links, subject categories, and ISSNs.
Glossarist: Acronym Glossaries and Acronym Dictionaries
An extensive searchable collection of acronym resources on the Web.
GovSpeak: A Guide to Government Acronyms & Abbreviations
Lists abbreviations for government agencies, programs, and publications; also includes links to the home page (or best alternative) for each agency, program, and publication listed.
Internet Acronym Server
A searchable index of acronyms and words used in acronyms.
PERIODICALS: ABBREVIATIONS: Selected Sources for Decoding Periodical and Journal Abbreviations
A brief list of sources on the Internet and print that decode or index journal abbreviations or list sources that decode such
abbreviations.
Scientific and Technical Acronyms, Symbols, and Abbreviations
Select the "Acronym Finder" link to search by acronym or keyword, or browse by first letter. Also includes reference tables for the Greek alphabet, Roman numerals, and much more.
General and Multidisciplinary
Glossarist: a Searchable Directory of Glossaries and Topical Dictionaries
May be searched by keyword or browsed by category.
OneLook Dictionary Search
A single search interface for an extensive collection of Web-based dictionaries covering art, business, computing, medicine, religion, science, slang, sports, technology, and a variety of other subject and general language resources including a reverse dictionary.
TheFreeDictionary
Billed as "English, Medical, Legal, Financial, and Computer Dictionaries, Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, a Literature Reference Library, and a Search Engine all in one."
Tododiccionarios.com
Links to dictionaries, encyclopedias, glossaries, and other electronic reference works in English or Spanish.
Visual Dictionary Online
Search one of 15 themes to quickly locate words, or find the meaning of a word by viewing the image it represents.
yourDictionary
Includes a quick search option, plus links to hundreds of dictionaries in hundreds of languages; links to glossaries and dictionaries in many subjects; and links to translation and language-related resources on the Internet.
Arts & Humanities
Art and Architecture Thesaurus Online
A searchable structured vocabulary of terms used to describe art, architecture, decorative arts, material culture, and archival materials. Coverage ranges from Antiquity to the present, and the scope is global.
Behind the Name: the Etymology and History of First Names
Browse or search for information on a specific name, or review topical lists.
Columbia Dictionary of Modern Literary and Cultural Criticism [Rutgers Restricted]
Part of the Literature Online (LION) database, the Dictionary contains definitions of terms relating to criticism and theory in literature, philosophy, and related areas. Each definition includes a brief bibliography of sources.
Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms [Rutgers Restricted]
Part of the Literature Online (LION) database, the Dictionary contains brief definitions of literary terms including those relating to traditional drama, rhetoric, literary history, and textual criticism.
Dictionary of Philosophical Terms and Names
Brief entries with extensive links to electronic texts and to more detailed discussions on this site or in other on-line resources.
Dictionary of Phrase and Fable
An electronic version of Brewer's 1898 text containing more than 18,000 entries the give "the derivation, source, or origin of common phrases, allusions, and words that have a tale to tell." The entries can be browsed alphabetically or searched by keyword.
Film Reference
Based on the International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers the site provides biographies of actors, actresses, directors, writers and production artists, as well as information on films.
Glossarist: Art Glossaries and Art Dictionaries
Links to an extensive collection of dictionaries relating to art and culture.
Glossary of Technical Theater Terms
Covers most aspects of theatrical production.
Grove Music Online [Rutgers Restricted]
Browse alphabetically or search for articles on all aspects of music, including biographies of musicians. Bibliographic citations and related links are also searchable.
IMDb Film Glossary
Part of the Internet Movie Database, this site provides definitions of terms and phrases frequently used in the world of movies, film, acting, and cinema-going.
New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy
A full-text online version of the book of the same name, browseable or searchable by keyword.
Nonverbal Dictionary of Gestures, Signs, & Body Language Cues
An alphabetical listing of terms relating to nonverbal human communication. Includes definitions and brief essays from anthropologists, archaeologists, biologists, linguists, psychiatrists, psychologists, semioticians, and others who study communication.
OneLook: Art Dictionaries and Glossaries
Links to a large collection of dictionaries and glossaries for the arts and humanities.
Oxford (Grove) Art Online [Rutgers Restricted]
Browse alphabetically or search for articles on all aspects of art, including biographies of artists. Most entries include bibliographies and links to related articles.
Business
Business Dictionaries and Encyclopedias RU Libraries Subject Research Guide
A collection of links to business and financial dictionaries and encyclopedias.
Glossarist: Business Dictionaries and Business Glossary Directory
Links to an extensive collection of dictionaries for business, advertising, real estate, management, and related topics.
OneLook: Business Dictionaries and Glossaries
Links to a large collection of business related dictionaries and glossaries.
Medicine
Acronyms and Initialisms for Health Information Resources
Acronyms for global information and data resources in health, medical, and veterinary sciences with links to selected related Web resources.
Glossarist: Health Glossaries and Health Dictionaries
Links to an extensive collection of dictionaries for health, medicine, and fitness.
Medical Glossary
A browseable list of medical terms and definitions.
Merriam Webster Medical Dictionary
A searchable dictionary with links between definitions.
OneLook: Medicine Dictionaries and Glossaries
Links to a large collection of medical and health dictionaries and glossaries.
Stedman's Online Medical Dictionary
Includes a freely searchable and browseable version of Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 27th Edition.
Science, Technology, and Math
Acronyms and Initialisms for Health Information Resources
Acronyms for global information and data resources in health, medical, and veterinary sciences with links to selected related Web resources.
Babel: A Glossary of Computer Oriented Abbreviations and Acronyms
An extensive alphabetical list of acronyms and abbreviations which apply to personal computers, multimedia, communications, programming, networking, and related topics. Includes an appendix of Country Domain Names and abbreviations.
Dictionary of Food Science and Technology [Rutgers Restricted]
A PDF version of the dictionary with short definitions including local names, synonyms, Latin names, and cross-references, as appropriate.
Dictionary of Mining, Minerals, and Related Terms
Brief definitions from the U.S. Bureau of Mines.
FileInfo.com
Billed as "the definitive resource for information about file
extensions and file types," each entry contains information about the
file format, a description of the file, and how to open the file.
FILExt: The File Extension Source
A searchable database of file extensions and the programs that use them.
FOLDOC: Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing
A searchable dictionary of acronyms, jargon, programming languages, tools, architecture, operating systems, networking, theory, conventions, standards, mathematics, telecoms, electronics, institutions, companies, projects, products, history, and in fact anything to do with computing.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Dictionary
Includes definitions for terms that either relate directly to GIS or that GIS users may come across in the course of their work. Supplemented by diagrams.
Glossarist: Computer Glossaries and Computer Dictionaries
Links to an extensive collection of computer & Internet dictionaries on the Web.
Glossary for Chemists of Terms Used in Toxicology
Definitions of terms, acronyms, and abbreviations used in the field of toxicology. From the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Glossary of Internet Terms
Brief definitions of Internet related terminology with cross-references to related terms.
How Many? A Dictionary of Units of Measurement
Includes the units of the International System of Units (SI); many other units of the metric system; various non-metric scientific units; units of the English traditional systems; selected traditional units from cultures other than English; and certain measurement terms and notations which are not "units of measurement" in a strict sense, but which are used much as if they were.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Mathematics [Rutgers Restricted]
A dictionary of terms for all disciplines of mathematics. Includes synonyms, acronyms, and abbreviations.
National Agricultural Library Thesaurus and Glossary
The thesaurus provides a controlled vocabulary of subject terms including terminology in the supporting biological, physical, and social sciences. The glossary provides brief definitions of agricultural terms.
NetLingo
A searchable dictionary containing words and definitions that describe the technology and community of the World Wide Web.
Nonverbal Dictionary of Gestures, Signs, & Body Language Cues
An alphabetical listing of terms relating to nonverbal human communication. Includes definitions and brief essays from anthropologists, archaeologists, biologists, linguists, psychiatrists, psychologists, semioticians, and others who study communication.
OneLook: Science Dictionaries and Glossaries
Links to a variety of science dictionaries and glossaries.
OneLook: Technology Dictionaries and Glossaries
Links to a large collection of technological dictionaries and glossaries.
Scientific and Technical Acronyms, Symbols, and Abbreviations
Select the "Acronym Finder" link to search by acronym or keyword, or browse by first letter. Also includes reference tables for the Greek alphabet, Roman numerals, and much more.
Talking Glossary of Genetic Terms
Provided by the National Human Genome Research Institute, this site provides a searchable alphabetic listing of genetic terms with brief definitions, audios of detailed explanations, and links to related terms.
Tech Terms Dictionary
Definitions and explanations of computer and technology terms.
Webopedia
Online dictionary and search engine for computer and Internet technology definitions.
Whatis.com
Search for a term, browse word lists, or choose a topic to explore a group of related terms dealing with information technology, computers, and the Internet.
Social Sciences and Law
Abebooks Glossary
A glossary of book-related terms and abbreviations, including terms to describe the size and condition of books.
Bookbinding and the Conservation of Books: A Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology
A searchable or browseable alphabetical listing with definitions, cross-references between definitions, and bibliographic information; based on the 1982 book of the same title.
Buzz Words and Catch Phrases: A Glossary for Our Changing World
Includes people, places, agencies, technology, jargon, and clichés used in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States. Organized by topics: terrorism, war, geopolitics, religion, homeland security, disaster recovery, and miscellaneous.
DOD Dictionary of Military Terms
From the U.S. Department of Defense, the dictionary also links to separate sections on Acronyms & Abbreviations and NATO Only Terms.
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Dictionary
Includes definitions for terms that either relate directly to GIS or that GIS users may come across in the course of their work. Supplemented by diagrams.
Glossarist: Economy and Finance Glossaries and Dictionaries
Links to an extensive collection of dictionaries in the field of economics and finance.
Glossarist: Education Glossaries and Dictionaries
Links to an extensive collection of dictionaries relating to education.
Glossary of Legal Terms
Searchable dictionary based on the 2001 edition of Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law.
Glossary of Political Economy Terms
Entires for terms relating to political economy, with definitions of varying lengths and links to related terms.
New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy
A full-text online version of the book of the same name, browseable or searchable by keyword.
Nonverbal Dictionary of Gestures, Signs, & Body Language Cues Center for Nonverbal Studies
An alphabetical listing of terms relating to nonverbal human communication. Includes definitions and brief essays from anthropologists, archaeologists, biologists, linguists, psychiatrists, psychologists, semioticians, and others who study communication.
ODLIS: Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science
An alphabetical list of terms with brief definitions.
Online Dictionary of the Social Sciences
Entries cover basic concepts and events relevant to the study of: anthropology, sociology, criminology, Canadian studies, political science, and women's studies. Can be browsed alphabetically, or searched for a specific term or phrase.
UNESCO Thesaurus
Provides a controlled vocabulary of subject terms for: education; science; culture; social and human sciences; information and communication; and politics, law and economics. Also includes the names of countries and groupings of countries (political, economic, geographic, ethnic and religious, and linguistic groupings).
U.S. Courts - Commonly Used Terms
A browseable list of terms commonly used in the U.S. Court system.
