Mac OS X: How to cite dictionary app in a paper

Question

I use the dictionary application on my mac constantly. Unfortunately for the life of me I cannot figure out how to cite it in a paper any ideas? I can tell that it is using the

New Oxford American Dictionary

But I can't find more information than that.

I am running Mac OS X, 10.4.11 with Dictionary version 1.0.2

Answer 1

(note: I'm on 10.6, so you may see things somewhat differently, but it should be close enough…)

Are you using the little Dictionary popup windoid, or the full Dictionary app? If the former, click on "More…" so that you get the Dictionary app.

When there, click on either:

• Go > Front/Back matter
  
  which displays all the introductory text from the Dictionary.
  
  or
  
  
• Dictionary > Preferences
  
  and select Dictionary from the list. It says there:

  New Oxford American Dictionary 2nd edition © 2005 by Oxford University Press, Inc.

Is that what you need?

Answer 2

APA format Oxford University. (2005). New Oxford American Dictionary, 2nd edition. NY: Oxford U. Press.

Answer 3

You can also simply cite the New Oxford American Dictionary's online edition- it has the same entries and tells you at the bottom of the page how to cite it. I tried one word and it showed me this (the xxx replace the location from where you accessed the dictionary):

"cat" World Encyclopedia. Philip's, 2008. Oxford Reference Online. Oxford University Press. xxx. 24 May 2011 http://www.oxfordreference.com/views/ENTRY.html?subview=Main&entry=t142.e2103