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Reference:
Dictionaries, Encyclopedias, Databases, Research Help

This basic list will serve your general reference needs. Some of the sites lead to many more specialised ones.
 
  • Acronym Finder, The
    'The Web's largest searchable database'. Contains about 155,000 acronyms, abbreviations and definitions.
    http://www.acronymfinder.com


  • Ask Asia
    A K-12 resource of the Asia Society: latest news, profiles, reference, Asia experts' database, links. Teachers' section features rich collection of classroom resources and teaching aids; professional development articles and a resource centre locator.>
    http://www.askasia.org/


  • Ask ERIC
    An electronic question answering service for teachers on the Internet, drawing on the world's largest education database. Access to links organisations, lesson plans...
    http://ericir.syr.edu/


  • Atlapedia Online
    Contains full color physical and political maps as well as key facts and statistics on countries of the world and resources for teachers and students. Considered the top atlas website.
    http://www.atlapedia.com/


  • Dictionary.com
    This also gives access to Thesaurus.com, Reference.com, Word-of-the-day, Fun and games, articles and other language resources.
    http://dictionary.reference.com/


  • Encarta Encyclopedia
    Superb multimedia encyclopedia; CD ownership gives entitlement to full online use but much is available without the CD. Click on Schoolhouse, home of the Encarta Lesson Collection and other educational resources.
    Run a search on 'Asia' or 'Islam' to see the range of resources available via both Encarta and MSN.
    http://encarta.msn.com/


  • Encyclopedia Britannica On-line
    Huge knowledge database. Access is by subscription (USD5 per month) but you can register for a free 14 day period.
    http://www.eb.com/


  • ERIC Clearinghouses
    The ERIC information network acquires, catalogs, summarizes, and provides access to education information from all sources on key educational issues, e.g. Disabilities/ Gifted Education; Early Childhood Education; Languages and Linguistics; Reading, English, and Communication; Teaching and Teacher Education... . Extensive user assistance includes AsERIC (above).
    http://www.eric.ed.gov/


  • The Free Dictionary (also known as Wordsmyth)
    This is an integrated dictionary and thesaurus (based on the American Heritage dictionary) with access to specialised dictionaries (Idioms, based on the Cambridge International Dictionary of Idioms) and Columbia and Wikipedia encyclopedias. There are other useful features, e.g. word lists on a topic of the day, a glossary maker and links to other sites for English language learners.
    http://www.thefreedictionary.com/dictionary.htm


  • How Stuff Works
    Clear explanations, photos, drawings, animations etc. for thousands of topics. New questions, books, articles, links, gadgets etc daily.
    http://www.howstuffworks.com/


  • Merriam Webster
    ‘The most up-to-date dictionary on the web'. Dictionary, word of the day, access to thesauri, word games...
    http://www.m-w.com/


  • OneLook.com
    Access to virtually every dictionary, general or specialised you could wish to use--757 have been indexed!.
    http://www.onelook.com/


  • Virtual Reference
    Over 2,500 reference locations and tools including dictionaries andlanguage, maps. Also try Virtual Tours, Virtual Search Sites, the How To sites or Useful Tools sections. There are 500 pages altogether offering 10,000 sites
    http://www.virtualfreesites.com/reference.html


  • Visual Thesaurus
    On this site you and your students can follow threads of meaning and sense relationships via an animated display rather like a shifting mind map. It's fun and instructive. Unfortunately, it now requires a subscription. This page tellls you about the benefits and uses of the site; you may well decide it's worth it for your school or college.
    http://www.visualthesaurus.com/educators/


  • Webopedia
    'The only online dictionary and search engine you need for computer and Internet technology.' Provides links to pages related to each item.
    http://www.webopedia.com/


  • WordCentral
    2000 Webby award for best educational web site. Daily buzzword, dictionary, verse composer. Good graphics. Merriam-Webster
    http://www.wordcentral.com/

 

Updated 12 July 2006
Created by Jean Floyd for English Language Teaching Centre
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
@ 2001-2006