This substantial dictionary (weighing over eight pounds) provides updated coverage of American English currently used in the academic, business, scientific, and popular culture communities. Of the some reported 330,000 words and definitions included, about 1,300 of these appear in the New Words and Senses section: computer terms such as applet and blog (but not iPod); scientific terms including bioregion and telemedicine; such signs of the times as bioterrorism and sandwich generation; and slang terms, e.g. yada yada (from "Seinfeld"). First date of usage and sources are documented. The volume includes the standard sections on commonly used abbreviations and chemical element symbols, biographical names, geographical names, a handbook of style, and illustrations. Thumb tabs would have been welcome. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)