Are up-to-date dictionaries the best source for the definitions of words?

[ZombieHorde]

I am excluding funny and politically motivated dictionaries.

[patrice]

1. The Oxford English Dictionary is the standard. nt

[knitter4democracy]

3. That's really the only one I use.

I like that it cites its sources.

[patrice]

5. Sources and etymology; I love reading how the words evolve.

:hi:

[BlooInBloo]

2. Meh. Even asking the question betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of language...

and just what definitions *are*.

[ZombieHorde]

4. I tried to get away with that in my Japanese class, but my professor would not go for it.

;)

[ThatPoetGuy]

10. You've got it right.

A definition is a description of the way people use a word. Dictionaries do not provide a set of laws to follow. They do not prescribe.

[BlooInBloo]

11. Even if they did prescribe, it wouldn't matter.

[Book Lover]

6. No

because I have met and worked with some of the people who write the definitions.

[ZombieHorde]

7. What is a better source?

[sam sarrha]

8. the American Heritage Dictionary, by all standards, it takes into consideration the evolution of

words, expanded definitions, even colloquial uses

its really big..get the thumb index

[Book Lover]

9. Please forgive

I gave you a Lounge reply as I failed to notice we were here in GD. Seriously, if you are talking about your general everyday working terminology, I'd suggest the American Heritage Dictionary. Or, if you have the time and inclination, why not do the research yourself? Use two or three search engines and locate some usage-contextualized definitions. OK, maybe that's too much to do...

[wuushew]

12. http://www.urbandictionary.com

accept no substitute

[DavidDvorkin]

13. In what sense of "best"?

[ZombieHorde]

14. Best would be the combination of accuracy and convenience in this case.