Chambers's essential English dictionary;

This dictionary offers real, practical guidance with the English language. It should help the learner understand English and use it yourself, and gives assistance where needed. It step-by-step treatment of frequently used words; 50,000 examples of real, everyday English; full-sentence defining style; boxes for phrasal, modal and auxilary verbs; 400 tinted usage notes; over 6000 synonyms and antonyms; over 3000 idioms; and appendices on letter-writing, punctuations and abbreviations.