We have been asked to compare these two online dictionaries with a very specific goal in mind: teaching vocabulary to our students.
What do students need? Simplicity, accuracy and extensive work so that the new words they add to their personal lexicon stick on and don't get swept off the next day. We usually teach some new words in every class and students remember them, but a good vocabulary tool is essential outside the classroom as regular practice. Now let's get down to analysing the tools:
Cambridge Dictionaries Online:
This is a dictionary in the strict sense of the word. Students will only be able to look up the meaning of words and see examples of use. For advanced students there is a thesaurus section where the words are classified by theme, i.e. "light and colour", and it contains very nuanced vocabulary.
Vocabulary.com:
More than a dictionary, this is a vocabulary building tool. The definitions are written in a very simple language and they make the reader feel as if a person were explaining the word to them rather than reading from a dictionary. In addition, the site features an option called "list builder" which allows students to keep a record of their vocabulary and go back to it whenever they like. Teachers could ask students to do a writing task from the examples of use, including different parts of speech. This kind of exercise helps them reflect on the word and remember it better.
Last but not least, there are a couple of features on vocabulary.com that will be fun for students who love words, they'll be able to challenge themselves and hopefully enjoy it: "the challenge" and "random word"
All in all, vocabulary.com is a good choice for teaching purposes. In my opinion, it'll be handy for students in intermediate to advanced levels. I took a screenshot of it and wrote some side notes, check it out.
Here are the links!
And this is a nice visual dictionary (intermediate to advanced!)
