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Over 3,200 entries

This dictionary provides definitions and explanations for chemical engineering terms in areas including: materials, energy balances, reactions, separations, sustainability, safety, and ethics. Comprehensively cross-referenced and complemented by over 60 line drawings, this dictionary is the most authoritative of its kind. It also covers many pertinent terms from the fields of chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics.

Over 4,000 entries

This informative A to Z provides clear, jargon-free definitions of a wide variety of mathematical terms. Its articles cover both pure and applied mathematics and statistics, and include key theories, concepts, methods, programmes, people, and terminology.

For this sixth edition, around 800 new terms have been defined, expanding on the dictionary’s coverage of algebra, differential geometry, algebraic geometry, representation theory, and statistics. Among this new material are articles such as cardinal arithmetic, first fundamental form, Lagrange’s theorem, Navier-Stokes equations, potential, and splitting field. The existing entries have also been revised and updated to account for developments in the field.

Numerous supplementary features complement the text, including detailed appendices on basic algebra, areas and volumes, trigonometric formulae, and Roman numerals. Newly added to these sections is a historical timeline of significant mathematicians’ lives and the emergence of key theorems. There are also illustrations, graphs, and charts throughout the text, as well as useful web links to provide access to further reading.

The Oxford Companion to Cosmology is a comprehensive, yet highly accessible, encyclopedic overview of this enduringly popular subject. Its 350+ in-depth entries - ranging from cosmic inflation and dark energy to Higgs boson and neutrinos - both illuminate the ideas behind the current understanding of the universe and outline the fundamental physics from which those ideas emerge. Subjects covered include the structure of the universe, the evolution of galaxies, galaxy clusters, and cold dark matter. It deals with both theoretical ideas, such as alternative cosmologies, as well as the various types of observational evidence, including redshift surveys and cosmic microwave background radiation. Appearing at a time when there is a growing consensus about the origins and development of the universe, centred on the hot Big Bang and the emerging Standard Cosmological Model, it offers an introductory overview of this fundamental issue that brings the reader up to date on current thinking.

Extensive cross-referencing and a glossary allow the reader to unravel the ideas behind the terminology, while selected illustrations bring the subject to life. Entry-level web links direct the reader to recommended online resources. Written by established experts in theoretical and observational cosmology, the Companion is an invaluable and authoritative reference resource for students, teachers, science writers, and anyone with a serious interest in cosmology.

Over 480 entries

Covering every aspect of animal behaviour from adaptation to warning, this accessible A–Z also includes terms from the related fields of ecology, physiology and psychology. Clear and informative entries on topics such as communication, learning, and navigation are backed up by examples and illustrations where appropriate. The new edition adds 80 new entries, expands coverage of behavioural ecology, cognitive ethology, and evolutionary theory, and brings the text up to date with new theories and research.

An essential source of reference for students of biology, psychology, and zoology, and fascinating reading for all those interested in animal behaviour.

‘An enormous amount of obscure data is satisfactorily explained here’ Times Literary Supplement

Over 4,300 entries

Compiled with the help of a team of expert contributors under the editorship of renowned author and broadcaster Ian Ridpath, the third edition of this dictionary covers everything from space exploration and the equipment involved to astrophysics, cosmology, and the concept of time. The dictionary also includes biographical entries on eminent astronomers, as well as worldwide coverage of observatories and telescopes. Supplementary material is included in the appendices, such as tables of Apollo lunar landing missions, the constellations, and planetary data, and numerous other tables and diagrams complement the entries.

The entries have been fully revised and updated for this edition, and around ninety new entries have been added to reflect the recent developments within the field of astronomy, including Bennu, Euclid, Mars Orbiter Mission, and slowly pulsating B star.

A Dictionary of Astronomy is an invaluable reference source for students, professionals, amateur astronomers, and space enthusiasts.

Over 5,800 entries

This new eighth edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect recent progress in the fields of biology, biophysics, and biochemistry, with particular expansion to the areas of ecology, cell biology, and plant and animal development. Over 150 new entries include de-extinction, ecological footprint, rewilding, and Zika virus.

Numerous appendices include classifications of the animal and plant kingdoms, SI units, Nobel prizewinners, and a new appendix on anatomical terms. With new diagrams and updated web links, this remains the market-leading dictionary for students of biology, both at sixth form college and university level.

Over 5,000 entries

Clear and authoritative, this popular dictionary provides an invaluable guide to every aspect of chemistry and its related fields. Its coverage is broad, ranging from physical chemistry to biochemistry, and is informed by the most current research. Eight informative appendices supplement the text, as well as over 200 diagrams, graphs, and tables, to provide a useful visual aid for the more complex definitions.

Now in its eighth edition, the dictionary has been fully revised, making it the most up-to-date reference work of its kind. Areas such as analytical chemistry, environmental chemistry, and organic chemistry have been expanded to reflect recent developments in the field. There are also 176 entirely new entries, including bioethanol, electron ionization, genome, and nanochemistry.

With its comprehensive and reliable content, this dictionary is an essential resource for students and teachers of chemistry at every level.

Over 6,500 entries

Previously named A Dictionary of Computing, this bestselling dictionary has been fully revised by a team of computer specialists, making it the most up-to-date and authoritative guide to computing available. Including expanded coverage of multimedia, computer applications, networking, and personal computing, it encompasses all aspects of the subject. Terms are defined in a jargon-free and concise manner, with helpful examples where relevant, and the appendices include useful resources such as generic domain names, file extensions, and the Greek alphabet. This dictionary is suitable for anyone who uses computers, and is as valuable for home and office users as it is indispensable for students of computing.

Over 8,000 entries

This is the most up-to-date dictionary of its kind, covering the key areas of construction and civil engineering.

This new edition has been fully updated to span the subjects of sustainability, new technologies, disaster management, and building software, and provides authoritative and reliable definitions to a wide range of terms. More than 600 new entries have been added to include terms such as asset management, hydraulic failure, sustainable development, and value engineering, providing broad coverage of construction and civil engineering, management techniques and processes, as well as legal aspects such as contracts and procurement. Detailed illustrations complement the text, and a further reading section is included to guide the reader towards suggested materials.

Written by a team of more than 130 experts from around the world, this dictionary is an authoritative resource for engineering students, construction professionals, and surveyors.

Over 6,500 entries

Written in a clear, accessible style, this authoritative and wide-ranging dictionary contains entries on all aspects of ecology and related environmental scientific disciplines such as biogeography, genetics, soil science, geomorphology, atmospheric science, and oceanography. Entries cover topics such as plant and animal physiology, animal behaviour, pollution, conservation, habitat management, population, evolution, environmental pollution, climatology, and meteorology. It also includes many line drawings and useful appendices.

Fully revised, updated, and expanded, with over 300 new entries that include beach replenishment, delta method, urban heat island, and zonal soils, this new edition is invaluable to students of ecology, biology, and environmental and conservation studies, and professionals in related areas, as well as the general reader with an interest in the natural world.

Over 5,200 entries

This popular dictionary, formerly published as the Penguin Dictionary of Electronics, has been extensively revised and updated, providing clear, concise, and jargon-free A-Z entries on key terms, theories, and practices in the areas of electronics and electrical science. Topics covered include circuits, power, systems, magnetic devices, control theory, communications, signal processing, and telecommunications, together with coverage of applications areas such as image processing, storage, and electronic materials. The dictionary is enhanced by dozens of equations and nearly 400 diagrams.

A Dictionary of Electronics and Electrical Engineering is the most up-to-date quick reference dictionary available in its field, and is a practical and wide-ranging resource for all students of electronics and of electrical engineering.

Over 700 entries

This new dictionary covers terms related to energy technologies and their impact on the world’s energy use. It sets out the principles behind each technology’s operation, as well as its economic, environmental, and social impacts. Coverage includes energy demand and conservation, electricity generation and distribution, energy storage, renewable energy and fossil fuel technologies, nuclear energy, environmental issues, energy and society, and biographies of eminent energy scientists. The text is complemented by illustrations, a chronology, and global statistics on energy use.

This topical dictionary appears at a time when the development of alternative technologies to fossil fuel is particularly important in trying to limit global warming, and is significantly affected by energy policy and politics. It is an invaluable resource for students of science, geography, and economics, and for professionals in energy-related industries.

Over 10,000 entries

A Dictionary of Environment and Conservation provides entries on scientific and social aspects of the environment—its key thinkers, treaties, movements, organizations, concepts, and theories. Covering subjects such as sustainable development, biodiversity, and environmental ethics, this is the ideal reference for students of environment and conservation, as well as for professionals in the field.

Over 7,500 entries

This eighth edition of A Dictionary of Genetics contains over 7,500 up-to-date and cross-referenced entries, including 540 that are newly written. The entries include the latest terminology, concepts, theories, and techniques, covering not only genetics but also such overlapping disciplines as cell biology, medicine, and evolutionary biology. The fully revised six appendices are a unique source of detailed supplementary information, including a chronology of scientific and technological breakthroughs spanning the period from 1590 to the present, lists of useful internet sites and journals, and a table of sample genome sizes and gene numbers. A Dictionary of Genetics continues to be the definitive reference work for students, educators, and clinicians in the field of genetics.

Over 3,000 entries

This bestselling dictionary contains entries on both physical and human geography, covering topics such as cartography, surveying, meteorology, climatology, ecology, population, industry, and development. Over 70 diagrams complement the text, and many entries include worked examples. This edition has been fully revised and updated, and includes useful web links which can be accessed on the dedicated companion website.

This A–Z reference is clear, concise, and authoritative, and is an essential companion for all students and teachers of geography.

‘can really claim to offer comprehensive coverage of the earth sciences’ TES

Over 10,000 entries

This leading dictionary covers all areas of geoscience, including planetary science, oceanography, palaeontology, mineralogy, and volcanology. In this edition, 675 new entries have been added and include expanded coverage of planetary geology and Earth-observing satellites. The entries are complemented by more than 130 diagrams and numerous web links, while appendices supplement the A–Z and have been extended to include three new tables on the Torino Impact Hazard Scale, Avalanche Classes, and the Volcanic Explosivity Index. It is an essential, authoritative, and jargon-free resource for students of geology, geography, geosciences, physical science, and related disciplines.

Over 8,000 entries

This Dictionary provides definitions and explanations for mechanical engineering terms in clear and concise A to Z entries, many illustrated. This new edition greatly expands the coverage of materials engineering terms, with a complete revision of the existing entries and the addition of more than 200 new ones in this area. Other new entries include atomic force microscope, epitrochoid, fundamental physical constant, light-emitting diode, motor generator unit, Ohm’s law, and turbomachine. Also touched upon are related subject areas such as acoustics, bioengineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, aeronautical engineering, and environmental engineering.

It is the most comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of its kind, and an essential reference for students of mechanical engineering and for anyone with an interest in the subject.

Over 7,000 entries

Roberts’ dictionary is a comprehensive yet concise guide to the various legal, regulatory, technical, commercial, and financial abbreviations, acronyms, terms and phrases which define the oil and gas industry today. Written by a leading practitioner and containing over 7,000 definitions plus a series of technical and narrative appendices, this is an essential guide to interpreting the industry’s extensive and complex jargon.

Over 4,000 entries

This new eighth edition has been fully updated to reflect progress in physics and related fields. It sees expansion to the areas of cosmology, astrophysics, condensed matter, quantum technology, and nanotechnology, with 125 new entries including, Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, kilonova, leptoquark, and muscovium.

The dictionary’s range of appendices, updated for the new edition, includes the periodic table, the electromagnetic spectrum, and a detailed chronology of key dates. Seventeen new diagrams add to the clarity and accessibility of the text, with almost 150 line drawings, tables, and graphs in total.

This popular dictionary remains the most up to date of its kind: the essential introductory reference tool for students encountering physics terms and concepts, as well as for professionals and anyone with an interest in the subject.

Over 7,700 entries

This new fourth edition has been completely revised and updated, covering all aspects in the field of plant sciences including biochemistry, plant physiology, cytology, ecology, genetics, evolution, biogeography, earth history, and earth sciences. Over 600 new entries, including Rosales, physical dormancy, menthol, and codeine, enhance the dictionary's coverage of botanical terms, key drugs and medicines derived from plants, and plant orders, families, and genera. It also explains many ecological terms, and expands beyond plants to describe fungi and bacteria and how they affect plants.

New timelines show important moments in plant evolution, and vernacular plant names have been transferred to a new appendix for ease of use, fully cross-referenced to the A to Z entries. The most up-to-date dictionary available on its subject, this is an essential resource for students of plant sciences and amateur botanists, as well as an entertaining and valuable guide for the plant enthusiast.