A working dictionary on the computer (hard disk or CD-ROM). The functional operation of these dictionaries varies, depending on their editors. When associated with CAT software, these dictionaries make it possible to recognise source terms recorded within the dictionary and to propose an equivalent translation automatically.
The Japanese usage of the term is slightly broader, including CD-ROM dictionaries and dictionaries used by desktop word-processing programs. See http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E9%9B%BB%E5%AD%90%E8%BE%9E%E6%9B%B8 (in Japanese) for more information. are small handheld computers with integrated reference materials. While their main use is Japanese-Japanese reference, most models feature several types of internal dictionaries.