Concise Dictionary of Engineering: A Guide to the Language of Engineering

摘要

This dictionary started as an in-house dictionary for Lockheed Martin. The compiler has worked for Lockheed Martin and several other high-tech companies. Its aim, clearly stated in the introduction, is to achieve a constant vocabulary for writing engineering reports and for labelling diagrams. This is a good aim and is found in some other dictionaries aimed at practitioners, as opposed to students, enthusiasts and the general public. Lockheed Martin is a major defence, aeronautics, security and advanced technology company. The content of the dictionary reflects this. It would have helped if it had a title that reflected this field of coverage. I would expect a dictionary of engineering to cover mechanical, electrical and chemical engineering, which are not included in this book. The subtitle, A Guide to the Language of Engineering, also misleads, as there is nothing here other than the word list. One would have expected a guide to advice on style, choice of tense, handing of abbreviations and the like. One might also have expected SI units and other lists. The dictionary does not have the usual cross-referencing and see also aids.