[BigTex]

The finest dictionary I have ever used is the American Heritage College Dictionary (Fourth Edition).

Given its size, you will find that this is an absolutely amazing resource. For several years I have kept two other dictionaries on my desk and without exception the American Heritage provides better definitions, more useful information, and just overall more help in understanding words and their proper usage.

If you just want one, this should be it.

American Heritage College Dictionary (4th Edition)

There is an abridged paperback version which I also use and it's also very good (especially for its size).

[ivanillich]

I've never used this one. I'm a big fan of the New Shorter Oxford. Just checked on Amazon and it is twice as much as the American Heritage above. Not sure about comparisons. The NSO gives etymologies and very thorough definitions. Got it when I went to undergrad, and it's settled every argument I've gotten into about a word's meaning or etymology.

[BigTex]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ivanillich', 'I')'ve never used this one. I'm a big fan of the New Shorter Oxford. Just checked on Amazon and it is twice as much as the American Heritage above. Not sure about comparisons. The NSO gives etymologies and very thorough definitions. Got it when I went to undergrad, and it's settled every argument I've gotten into about a word's meaning or etymology.

[mercurygirl]

Thanks BigTex.

I just clicked over and picked it up along with some Jung.
The price was right, too.