Page 8 - Ultimate Visual Dictionary (DK)

Introduction

HE VISUAL DICTIONARY is a annotated, color photographs showing the skin,
Tcompletely new kind of reference muscles, and bones of the human hand. In this entry
you will quickly find that the bone you are searching
book. It provides a link between pictures
for is called the distal phalanx, and for good measure
and words in a way that no ordinary you will discover that it is attached to the middle
dictionary ever has. Most dictionaries phalanx by the distal interphalangeal joint.
simply tell you what a word means, but
Perhaps you want to know what a catalytic converter
the VISUAL DICTIONARY shows you—through looks like. If you look up “catalytic converter” in an
a combination of detailed annotations, ordinary dictionary, you will be told what it is and
possibly what it does—but you will not be able to tell
explicit photographs, and illustrations.
what shape it is or what it is made of. However, if
In the VISUAL DICTIONARY, pictures define you look up “catalytic converter” in the index of the
the annotations around them. You do not VISUAL DICTIONARY, you will be directed to the Modern
engines entry on page 344—where the introduction
read definitions of the annotated words,
gives you basic information about what a catalytic
you see them. The highly accessible converter is—and to page 350—where there is a
format of the VISUAL DICTIONARY, the spectacular exploded-view photograph of the
mechanics of a Renault Clio. From these pages you
thoroughness of its annotations, and
will find out not only what a catalytic converter looks
the range of its subject matter make like, but also that it is attached at one end to an
it a unique and helpful reference tool. exhaust pipe and at the other to a muffler.
Whatever it is that you want to find a name for, or
whatever name you want to find a picture for, you
How to use the VISUAL DICTIONARY will find it quickly and easily in the VISUAL DICTIONARY.
You will find the VISUAL DICTIONARY simple to use. Perhaps you need to know where the vamp on a
Instead of being organized alphabetically, it is
shoe is; or how to tell obovate and lanceolate leaves
divided by subject into 14 sections—THE UNIVERSE, apart; or what a spiral galaxy looks like; or whether
PREHISTORIC EARTH, PLANTS, ANIMALS, THE HUMAN BODY, birds have nostrils. With the VISUAL DICTIONARY at
etc. Each section begins with a table of contents hand, the answers to each of these questions, and
listing the major entries within that section. For thousands more, are readily available.
example, The Visual Arts section has entries on
Drawing, Tempera, Fresco, Oils, Watercolor, Pastels, The VISUAL DICTIONARY does not just tell you what the
Acrylics, Calligraphy, Printmaking, Mosaic, and names of the different parts of an object are. The
Sculpture. Every entry has a short introduction photographs, illustrations, and annotations are all
explaining the purpose of the photographs and specially arranged to help you understand which
illustrations, and the significance of the annotations.
parts relate to one another and how objects function.
If you know what something looks like, but don’t With the VISUAL DICTIONARY you can find in seconds
know its name, find the term you need by turning the words or pictures that you are looking for; or
to the annotations surrounding the pictures; if you you can simply browse through the pages of the
know a word, but don’t know what it refers to, use book for your own pleasure. The VISUAL DICTIONARY
the comprehensive index to direct you to the is not intended to replace a standard dictionary
appropriate page.
or conventional encyclopedia, but is instead a
stimulating and valuable companion to ordinary
Suppose that you want to know what the bone reference volumes. Giving you instant access to the
at the end of your little finger is called. With a language that is used by astronomers and architects,
standard dictionary, you wouldn’t know where musicians and mechanics, scientists and
to begin. But with the VISUAL DICTIONARY you simply
sportspeople, it is the ideal reference book for
turn to the entry called Hands—within THE HUMAN specialists and generalists of all ages.
BODY section—where you will find four fully

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