Based on the authoritative American Heritage ® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition, this new edition of the American Heritage ® Desk Dictionary has been completely updated; every single entry has been reviewed and revised as necessary. Its thousands of new words and senses, such as antiquark,  earbud, and the verb sense of friend, reflect recent developments in the sciences, technology, and popular culture. Hundreds of photographs and drawings enhance the text, and several tables such as the periodic table of the elements and a table of units of measurement provide helpful data in a useful visual format.