Random House , 1997. Like the language they record, dictionaries change incrementally, dropping obsolete terms and adding new ones. The latter always engender the most excitement about a new edition of a dictionary since these words provide clues to the culture's direction. Since it debuted under the title of Random House Webster's College Dictionary in 1991, this dictionary, through its inclusion of new words, implies that issues of science, gender, technology, psychological well being, crime, business, and personal self-expression have been significant cultural concerns of the 1990s. Along with this update on social trends, the new edition continues to deliver the same sort of quality evident in 1991.
Definitions are clear and to the point.
When a word has multiple senses, the most common is defined first. Usage notes are supplied, but with the restraint appropriate in descriptive lexicography. As is characteristic of Random House dictionaries, a modest number of biographical and place name entries are integrated into the lexicon. Etymologies, pronunciations, and illustrations will meet the needs and expectations of the diverse population that sensibly turns to desk dictionaries for guidance. However, they have good reason to replace that 1991 edition with 1997's second edition.