Dictionaries

General works containing alphabetical lists, with information given for each term.

Sub-headings:

English

In addition to regular online dictionaries, these English language sites include dictionaries dealing with rhyming, slang, and sign language.

Non-English

Dictionaries for languages other than English.

Translation Dictionaries

Dictionaries that, given a word in one language, will show the identical or related word in another language.

Glossaries

Resources in this category:

Abbreviations.com
http://www.stands4.com/

This is an online directory and search engine for acronyms/initialisms and abbreviations.

Acronym Finder
http://www.AcronymFinder.com/

"The Acronym Finder (AF) is a world wide web (WWW) searchable database of common acronyms about computers, technology, and telecommunications, with an emphasis on Department of Defense (DoD), Air Force, Army, and Navy acronyms." This site has copyright information, updates, features, contributors, a disclaimer, other engines, and tips for users.

The Alternative Dictionaries
http://www.notam02.no/~hcholm/altlang/

"These pages contain words and expressions you most likely won't find in a normal dictionary" including slang, insults, racial slurs, and terms for bodily functions and sexual acts. "This is an experimental 'internet collaborative project', which means that all entries are made by internet users."

AskOxford.com: Free online dictionary resources from Oxford University Press
http://www.askoxford.com/

Use Ask an Expert to pose questions about English grammar, spelling, and usage; improve your writing skills with Better Writing; search for words and quotations in World of Words; find crosswords and puzzles in the Games section. A comprehensive resource where you can learn anything and everything about the English language.

Compendium of Environmental Acronyms
http://www.umr.edu/~aeg/arco/arco.html

An alphabetical listing of acronyms (and what they stand for) related to the environment.

The DICT Development Group
http://www.dict.org/bin/Dict

A dictionary search tool that allows natural language searching for definitions from multiple dictionaries.

DOD Dictionary of Military Terms
http://www.dtic.mil/doctrine/jel/doddict/

Browsable and searchable dictionary of approved U.S. military terminology. Also includes the Joint Acronyms and Abbreviations Master Data Base.

The Free Dictionary
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

This website provides access to English, Medical, Legal, and Computer Dictionaries, a Thesaurus, Encyclopedia, a Literature Reference Library, and a Search Engine all in one.

Glossary of Poetic Terms from BOB'S BYWAY
http://www.poeticbyway.com/glossary.html

An extensive collection of poetic terms and their definitions, with numerous cross-references and examples. Browsable by letter of the alphabet.

Idiom Site
http://www.idiomsite.com/

Are you having a "bad hair day"? Or do you know someone who is "not playing with a full deck"? Find the meanings and origins of common idioms on this site.

InfoVisual.info
http://www.infovisual.info/

This dictionary, available in both English and French, allows users to search for terms defined by pictures rather than words. Subject areas include vegetal biology, animal biology, and transportation.

The Internet Acronym Server
http://silmaril.ie/cgi-bin/uncgi/acronyms

An index of over 17,000 acronyms and their expansions. You may search the acronym itself, the first word which makes up an acronym, or submit an acronym for inclusion in the database. The database is updated weekly.

Medi-Lexicon
http://www.pharma-lexicon.com/

Dictionary of medical, pharmaceutical, biomedial, and healthcare abbreviations and acronyms.

NetLingo: The Internet Language Dictionary
http://www.netlingo.com/

"This online dictionary contains definitions of hundreds of words that are emerging as a new vocabulary surrounding the technology and community of the Internet and the World Wide Web." You can browse the dictionary, look at the message board, and there is even a "pocket dictionary".

On-line Medical Dictionary
http://cancerweb.ncl.ac.uk/omd/

Search or browse this dictionary of "terms relating to biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, medicine, molecular biology, physics, plant biology, radiobiology, science and technology," including "acronyms, jargon, theory, conventions, standards, institutions, projects, eponyms, history, in fact anything to do with medicine or science."

OneLook Dictionaries
http://www.onelook.com/

A fast dictionary search tool which allows you to look up a word in 350 different dictionaries simultaneously, or pick specific dictionaries from a grouping of subject-specific ones. Includes Internet/computer, science, technology, business, sports, religion, acronym, and general dictionaries. You can also browse the dictionaries individually.

Strange & Unusual Dictionaries
http://www.blueray.com/dictionary/

Features three unique dictionaries: The White Queen's Dictionary of One Letter Words, Dictionary of All-Consonant Words, and The Dictionary of All-Vowel Words. Other features include: Catalog of Dictionary Songs, link to other alternative online dictionary resources, and a list of recommended print sources.

SYMBOLS.com -- Encyclopedia of Western Signs and Ideograms
http://www.symbols.com/

"The world's largest on-line encyclopedia of graphic symbols. SYMBOLS.com contains more than 2,500 Western signs, arranged into 54 groups according to their graphic characteristics. In 1,600 articles their histories, uses, and meanings are thoroughly discussed. The signs range from ideograms carved in mammoth teeth by Cro-Magnon men, to hobo signs and subway graffiti. Use the Graphic Index to search for the meaning or history of a sign. If you want to see an ideogram with a certain meaning, use the Word Index. You may search for both meanings and names of signs."

Techterms.org: Computer and Technology Defined and Explained
http://www.techterms.com/

"The Tech Terms Dictionary is a constantly growing collection of computer and technology terms. Each definition is written in a way that is easy for the reader to understand and serves to explain the term, not just define it."

VoyCabulary
http://www.voycabulary.com/

"VoyCabulary is a powerful web tool which will link web pages or phrases to online references like dictionaries or thesauruses -- This provides a convenient and speedy way to lookup words quickly and efficiently, without disrupting your normal web browsing... If you don't want to process a webpage, but have some text (maybe from a word processor), you may simply cut and paste it into the textbox and VoyCabulary will process it as well." Voycabulary includes an English Dictionary/Thesaurus as well as Medical, Acronym, and Computer dictionaries. Translations are available to and from English to Spanish, German, French, Japanese, Dutch, Swedish, Portuguese, Russian, Hungarian, and Welsh.