How to Find Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Use Dictionaries and Encyclopedias to:

• Get an overview of your topic or issue
• Learn the definitions of terms and concepts
• Identify keywords to use in searching for additional information

Frequently-Used Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

• Encyclopaedia Britannica Online - Academic Edition
  Concise, scholarly articles on a wide range of subjects.
• Oxford English Dictionary (OED)
  Covers words from across the English-speaking world with etymological analysis, lists of variant spellings and shows pronunciation.

Search Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

• Gale Virtual Reference Library
  Search across multiple reference sources in many subjects, including art, biography, business, cultural studies, education, the environment, history, religion, science, and social science.

Find More Dictionaries

• Use MNCAT and search for a general subject (e.g. physics or music) and the word dictionary in the search box. OR
• Browse a list of online dictionaries from the University Libraries.

Find More Encyclopedias

• Use MNCAT and search for a general subject (e.g. physics or music) and the word encyclopedia in the search box. OR
• Browse a list of online encyclopedias from the University Libraries.