Welcome to theOED Online tour

The Oxford English Dictionary is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language.The Oxford English Dictionary is widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language.It is an unsurpassed guide to the history and

meaning of 600,000 words— past and present—from across the English-speaking world.

It is an unsurpassed guide to the history and meaning of 600,000 words— past and present—from across the English-speaking world.The new OED Online lets you explore every aspect of the history of English…The new OED Online lets you explore every aspect of the history of English……and the people, societies, and cultures

that created it.…and the people, societies, and cultures that created it.

In this tour….

1. Getting started2. Searching the OED3. Exploring an entry4. The Historical Thesaurus5. Categories6. Timelines7. Sources

In this tour….

1. Getting started2. Searching the OED3. Exploring an entry4. The Historical Thesaurus5. Categories6. Timelines7. Sources

1. Getting started

…type a word or phrase in the ‘Quick search’ box to look up dictionary entries…

…type a word or phrase in the ‘Quick search’ box to look up dictionary entries…

…or use the ‘Browse’ links to explore different pathways through the English language.

…or use the ‘Browse’ links to explore different pathways through the English language.

The home page gives quick access to all the main OED Online functions...The home page gives quick access to all the main OED Online functions...Create a personal ‘My OED’ account...Create a personal ‘My OED’ account...

…to keep a permanent store of favourite entries and searches...…to keep a permanent store of favourite entries and searches...

…and to manage site preferences.…and to manage site preferences.

Within the site, the ‘Quick search’ box is in the top bar…

Within the site, the ‘Quick search’ box is in the top bar…

…and the ‘Browse’ links are in the top right corner.…and the ‘Browse’ links are in the top right corner.

‘My entries’ and ‘My searches’ keep track of your recent activity in OED Online…

‘My entries’ and ‘My searches’ keep track of your recent activity in OED Online…

…so you can easily return to any previous entry or search.…so you can easily return to any previous entry or search.

2. Searching the OED

Type a word or phrase in the ‘Quick search’ box…Type a word or phrase in the ‘Quick search’ box…

Type a word or phrase in the ‘Quick search’ box…Type a word or phrase in the ‘Quick search’ box…

The results list all the dictionary entries that match your search term…The results list all the dictionary entries that match your search term…

…and links to every occurrence of the term in OED definitions, quotations, etc.…and links to every occurrence of the term in OED definitions, quotations, etc.

Click a result to view the full entry... Click a result to view the full entry...

Use ‘Advanced Search’ to examine the full content of the OED…Use ‘Advanced Search’ to examine the full content of the OED…

…search by entries, senses, or quotations……search by entries, senses, or quotations…

…search for words and phrases anywhere in the OED text……search for words and phrases anywhere in the OED text…

…or use filters to study particular periods, subject areas, etc. …or use filters to study particular periods, subject areas, etc.

A results set can be refined by subject, date, etc…A results set can be refined by subject, date, etc…

…or you can view your results as a timeline.…or you can view your results as a timeline.

A results set can be refined by subject, date, etc…A results set can be refined by subject, date, etc…

3. Exploring an entry

There are dozens of things you can do with OED entries…There are dozens of things you can do with OED entries……customize the way

the entry is displayed……customize the way the entry is displayed…

…view pronunciation guides……view pronunciation guides…

…hover over a cross-reference to see the definition……hover over a cross-reference to see the definition…

…click a quotation title to see full details of the text……click a quotation title to see full details of the text…

…or to see more of this author or work in the OED.…or to see more of this author or work in the OED.

Each sense is linked directly to the Historical Thesaurus…Each sense is linked directly to the Historical Thesaurus…

…and to other related senses throughout the dictionary.…and to other related senses throughout the dictionary.

Click ‘About this entry’…Click ‘About this entry’…

‘In this entry’ gives quick access to every term covered in the current entry.

‘In this entry’ gives quick access to every term covered in the current entry.

…to see a range of additional information, visualizations, and links.…to see a range of additional information, visualizations, and links.

…or browse neighbouring entries.…or browse neighbouring entries.

Save the entry to ‘My OED’… …email to a friend… …download citation details…

Save the entry to ‘My OED’… …email to a friend… …download citation details…

4. The HistoricalThesaurus

The Historical Thesaurus is a semantic index of the contents of the OED…

The Historical Thesaurus is a semantic index of the contents of the OED…

With the Historical Thesaurus, OED Online provides powerful new ways to explore language, history, and culture...

With the Historical Thesaurus, OED Online provides powerful new ways to explore language, history, and culture...

…almost every word, phrase, and meaning throughout the dictionary……almost every word, phrase, and meaning throughout the dictionary…

…covering more than 1,000 years of the English language.…covering more than 1,000 years of the English language.

Each dictionary sense is connected to its semantic class in the thesaurus…

Each dictionary sense is connected to its semantic class in the thesaurus…

…with direct links to equivalent terms elsewhere in the OED…

…with direct links to equivalent terms elsewhere in the OED…

…and a link to the thesaurus itself.…and a link to the thesaurus itself.

Within the thesaurus, all the terms in a class are listed in chronological order…Within the thesaurus, all the terms in a class are listed in chronological order…

…so you can trace the development of a concept over time.…so you can trace the development of a concept over time.

The tree on the left shows the location of this class in the thesaurus taxonomy…

The tree on the left shows the location of this class in the thesaurus taxonomy……you can browse the tree to explore related concepts.…you can browse the tree to explore related concepts.

From the thesaurus home page, you can browse the tree from the top levels downwards…

From the thesaurus home page, you can browse the tree from the top levels downwards……or search directly for a term.…or search directly for a term.

…or search directly for a term.…or search directly for a term.

Results show each class in which the search term occurs…Results show each class in which the search term occurs……select a result to view the class in full……select a result to view the class in full…

Click any term to go directly to the corresponding sense in the dictionary.

Click any term to go directly to the corresponding sense in the dictionary.

5. Categories

‘Categories’ lets you explore the English language…‘Categories’ lets you explore the English language…

…by subject area……by subject area…

…types of language use……types of language use…

…English around the world……English around the world…

…or the roots of English.…or the roots of English.

Select a category…Select a category…

Select a category…Select a category…

…to see all the relevant terms in the OED.…to see all the relevant terms in the OED.

6. Timelines

Explore the development of the English language over time…

Explore the development of the English language over time…

…by subject area……by subject area…

…English around the world……English around the world…

…or the roots of English.…or the roots of English.

Select a category…Select a category…

…to view its timeline.…to view its timeline.

Hover over for more information…Hover over for more information…

…or click to go to full results.…or click to go to full results.Hover over for more information…Hover over for more information…

Any set of results can be viewed as a timeline...Any set of results can be viewed as a timeline...

…and you can carry on refining a search in this view.…and you can carry on refining a search in this view.

7. Sources

Find out about the sources of the OED’s quotation evidence…Find out about the sources of the OED’s quotation evidence…

…from Beowulf to the Daily Mail……from Beowulf to the Daily Mail…

…magazines, letters, diaries……magazines, letters, diaries…

…travellers, novelists, naturalists……travellers, novelists, naturalists…

…and at least one alchemist.…and at least one alchemist.

Browse or sort the list…Browse or sort the list…

…or search by name……or search by name…

Select a source to see full details...Select a source to see full details...

…or search by name……or search by name…

Each source record gives information about the writer or work…Each source record gives information about the writer or work…

…analysis of works quoted in the OED……analysis of works quoted in the OED…

…and indexes to entries and senses where each quotation appears.…and indexes to entries and senses where each quotation appears.

Thank you for takingthe OED Online tour.

To find out more, visit OED Online at www.oed.com.

•More information »•How to subscribe »•Start using OED Online »

Thank you for takingthe OED Online tour.

To find out more, visit OED Online at www.oed.com.

•More information »•How to subscribe »•Start using OED Online »