Oxford Rhyming Dictionary. Clive Upton and Eben Upton. 659p. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004. 0-19-280115-5; 2004-53133. $37.95.

Every trade has its tools and sometimes even poets are at a loss for words. For the occasion when aspiring poets or songwriters cannot find their muse, this guide to rhymes can help. The authors have arranged more than 85,000 words phonetically into 40 groups according to their final sound. Phonetic order gives precedence to vowel sounds and secondary consideration is given consonants or their combinations. This structure means the entries begin with words ending in a long "e" sound (creepy, hippy, suddenly) and end with an "l" sound (chemical, playful, puzzle). Each group is further subdivided into dozens or even hundreds of subgroups, depending on associated sounds in the final and preceding syllables. Each group is numerically coded for easy reference. The typical user, however, will simply consult the index for the word to which a matching rhyme is needed, and then check the coded entry. Looking under "greasy," for instance yields two entries: 1.22.1, which lists Creasy, fleecy and Assisi; and 1.23.1 where one finds easy, cheesy and sleazy. Since the arrangement is based on sound, the user might also browse neighboring sections for other possibilities. The use of standard British pronunciation may give American users occasional pause (the group for daughter includes water and porter), but exposing these differences in dialects is one of the pleasure of using this guide. Academic and public libraries should both find a place for this inexpensive tool.