: It introduced thousands of new words and meanings, particularly from the burgeoning worlds of technology and the internet, such as "World Wide Web" and early digital terminology.
: A single mouse click allowed users to cross-reference any word within the dictionary. Historical Context Oxford Dictionary Tenth Edition
: To keep pace with the digital age, a portable CD-ROM version was released. This version offered: : It introduced thousands of new words and
The (COD10), first published in 1999, represented a significant shift in lexicography by moving toward a more contemporary, user-focused approach to the English language. Edited by Judy Pearsall, this edition was notable for being the first "Concise" version to be based on the groundbreaking Oxford English Dictionary and the British National Corpus , ensuring definitions reflected how words were actually used in modern life. Key Features of the Tenth Edition This version offered: The (COD10), first published in
While the broader Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a historical record of every word in the English language since 1150 AD, the Concise versions—like the Tenth Edition—are designed for daily use. For example, whereas the OED might track the word "hegemony" back to its 16th-century Greek origins, the COD10 focuses on its contemporary definition as leadership or dominance by one social group over others.
The Tenth Edition solidified the dictionary's role not just as a "word book," but as a functional tool for professional and academic environments, frequently cited in everything from legal reports to scientific risk assessments. OED Editions