New to IReL: Oxford Dictionaries Pro (03 . 04 . 2012)

With up-to-date online dictionaries, thesauruses, and language reference content based on the largest language research programme in the world, Oxford Dictionaries Pro is an extensive, integrated, smart-linked English language resource. It offers quick search access to definitions of words, phrases, and idioms, with expert guidance on style and usage, grammar, and spelling; plus specialist guides for legal and technical writing.

Dictionary

• A-Z dictionary wordwheel for easy browsing
• Advanced search to explore the dictionary by meaning, people and places, subject, region, usage, and word class
• Audio pronunciations in both British English and US English
• 1.9 million extra example sentences showing words as they are really used in today's English - all smart-linked and fully searchable
• Tooltips with hover-over quick definitions for almost any word on the page

Thesaurus

• A-Z thesaurus wordwheel
• Find synonyms for the specific sense of a word in the dictionary
• Link to dictionary definitions from any word in the thesaurus
• Quick search thesaurus

Language resources

• Searchable complete versions of New Hart's Rules, Pocket Fowler's Modern English Usage, and Garner's Modern American Usage
• Specialist dictionaries for writers and editors include New Oxford Dictionary for Writers and Editors, and Garner's Dictionary of Legal Usage
• Link directly from dictionary headwords to relevant chapters or entries in the Writers and Editors sections
• Comprehensive Writing Skills including grammar and punctuation where good writing starts, style and usage to write effectively and create the right impression, and quick spelling tips
• Use the Vocabulary Builder to enrich creative writing

An initiative of the IUA Librarians

I think IReL is a huge joint achievement of the HEA, IUA & SFI and in particular the libraries of the institutions involved.
Dr Enda McGlynn, Dublin City University