Using the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

CD-ROM 2nd edition

The following is a brief overview of the main features of the Cambridge Advanced
Learner’s Dictionary CD-ROM.

Start the program by double-clicking the desktop icon.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 2nd edition.lnk
Parts of the dictionary window explained

This is what the dictionary window looks like after a search for the word cook.

A-Z list: appears while you are typing in the search box and shows the words in the
dictionary that start with the letters you are typing.

Results list: results of a search of all the text through the dictionary are arranged so
that entries containing the search word are shown alphabetically as follows:

• headwords, derived words and variants (dark blue type)

• phrasal verbs (light blue type)
• idioms and phrases (green type)
• definitions (black type)
• examples (black italic type)

Guidewords, which are given for words with more than one meaning, are shown in
brackets.
To see the dictionary entry for any word in the Results list: click that word.

Cross-referencing

To see the entry for any word in a definition or example sentence: double-click that
word. The small blue Look up window opens showing the definition.

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This also contains the pronunciation buttons and any buttons which provide
additional information about the word. The window can then be closed by clicking on
the x in the top corner.

Pronunciation

The pronunciation in the dictionary is colour-coded:

• Red for British English
• Blue for American English

Click once on each symbol to hear the model pronunciation.

If the phonemic spelling after the symbols is in black the British and American
pronunciation is the same. If there are differences then the British is listed first and is
in red; the American follows and is in Blue.

e.g.

Clicking on the microphone symbol opens the

Pronunciation practice window.

To record, click and hold the Record button.

You must hold the button for a few seconds
after saying the word. Click Listen to hear your
recording and then compare with the British or
American model.

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SMART thesaurus

At the end of every dictionary entry or definition is a SMART thesaurus button.

For example, look up the word sell and click on the SMART thesaurus button.

The SMART thesaurus window opens at the category in which sell is classified. This
is called Selling and contains 78 words related to that topic.

Double-click a headword in the central list and a Look up window with the definition
of that word opens.

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Other buttons
On some definitions extra buttons are available:
Verb Endings – accompanies all verbs
and gives past forms, gerund etc.
Word Building – gives a word family for
that word, for examples look up produce
or economy. This is linked to the Word
Family lists in the back of the book
version of the dictionary.
Extra examples – gives a number of
additional examples of the headword in
context.
Using the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary CD-ROM
Common Learner Error – explains and
corrects errors often made with that
word, for examples look up attend or
economy.
Collocations – gives a list of verbs,
nouns, prepositions etc, that collocate
with the word, for examples look up
money or war.
Usage Note – gives extra information,
such as differences between British and
American English, for examples look up
shop or land (COUNTRY).
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QUICKfind and SUPERwrite

Click on the QUICKfind or SUPERwrite buttons on the main toolbar.

This opens the QUICKfind or SUPERwrite windows and minimises the main window.

These features can used together with Internet Explorer and programs from Microsoft
Office such Word, PowerPoint and Outlook.

Position the mouse pointer over a word on the webpage or word processor document
and the QUICKfinder or SUPERwrite will automatically look it up.

QUICKfinder with Internet Explorer. The

mouse pointer is held over the word
boost in the headline of the report.

The QUICKfinder window provides the

pronunciation buttons and is designed for
reading.

SUPERwrite with Microsoft Word. The

mouse pointer is held over the word
threats in the second paragraph of the
text.

The SUPERwrite window gives access

to the extra information buttons such
the SMART thesaurus and is intended
as a writing aid.

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Using the CALD CD-ROM with learners

Learners can get the best use of the CALD if they are familiar with the above
features. This way they can:
• Look up words and find the correct meanings
• Listen to and practise the pronunciation of individual words
• Cross-reference the meanings of words used in the definitions and examples
sentences.
• Use the QUICKfinder and SUPERwrite as a reading or writing assistant when on
the Web or preparing electronic documents.

Learners can also be reminded that the basic definition of a word can help them with
issues such prepositions and antonyms. For example, look up the word interested.

As in the book version of the dictionary the prepositions in and to are highlighted in
the example sentences as well as showing that interested in is followed by a gerund.
At the end of the definition is a note giving uninterested as the opposite.

One of the most important things that can be emphasised to learners is that the
program can also be used as a production dictionary, i.e. it can help them actively
expand their vocabulary.

The most obvious tools for this are the Word Building and SMART thesaurus
features. These allow them to create word families and to collect vocabulary
associated with the word they are looking for.

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A less obvious way is to use the Result list on the left of the main window. When you
search for a word with the program, it searches for it everywhere in the text of the
dictionary. The colour-coded results are then displayed in the Result list. This
includes collocations, phrasal verbs, idioms, definitions and example sentences. The
last two display the word in context.

A simple example is the word money.

As you can see at the bottom of the Results list, the word money appears 2054 times
in the CALD.

At the top of the list, in dark blue, are noun collocations that appear as headwords in
the dictionary, e.g. big money, money market, pocket money etc.

Next, in green, are idioms using the word money, e.g. be in the money, Money
talks, Time is money, etc.

After this is a long list of words, in black text, whose definitions uses the word money,
e.g. account (BANK) an arrangement with a bank to keep your money there and to
allow you to take it out when you need to:
or
outgoings amounts of money that regularly have to be spent, for example to pay for
heating or rent
etc.

The final, italised, part of the list are words where the word money is used in the
example sentences in their definitions,
e.g. count (NUMBER) Count your money carefully to make sure it's all there.
and
purchase She purchased her first house with the money.
etc.

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