Chambers was founded by William and Robert Chambers in Edinburgh in the early 19th century and we are still based in Edinburgh today, just minutes from where the brothers first set up shop on Leith Walk. W & R Chambers became Chambers Harrap Publishers with the acquisition of the bilingual dictionary publisher Harrap in the 1990s, adding to the strength of our reference list. As well as the core list of dictionaries and thesauruses, we also publish a range of language-reference titles, books on science, history, biography and quotations, fact books, phrasebooks and crossword, puzzle and games books. The company has been part of Hachette Livre UK since 2006.

This year is an exciting year for us as we launch the 11th edition of The Chambers Dictionary, first published in 1901 and the book for which we are best known. With a typically forthright foreword by Jeremy Paxman, it contains hundreds of the newest words to enter our ever-expanding language – although not all have conventional definitions.

With new entries ranging from technology (nanoparticle, designer baby and blu-ray) to the environment (eco-village, carbon footprint and food miles), the new edition reflects our modern world. And it wouldn't be The Chambers Dictionary without the odd humorous definition sneaking in, and this edition is no exception. Editor-in-chief Mary O'Neill and the team have added to the notorious éclair definition ('a cake long in shape but short in duration') with a few crackers of their own, such as comfort food ('mood-enhancing food that meets the approval of one's taste buds but not of one's doctor') and wardrobe malfunction ('the temporary failure of an item of clothing to do its job in covering a part of the body that it would be advisable to keep covered').

To celebrate the launch, we're hosting a Language Quiz event on 18 August at the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Crime writer Mark Billingham will preside over the proceedings as Christopher Brookmyre, Jenny Colgan and Ed Byrne put their linguistic skills to the test.

A major initiative for the company in 2008 has been the creation of a brand-new online reference platform at www.chambersreference.com. Harrap's Unabridged French Dictionary is already live, with The Chambers Dictionary and The Chambers Thesaurus launching this month. These resources will be updated every three months so they'll always be bang up to date. We're offering a 30-day free trial to new users or a six-month free trial if you buy a print copy of the 11th edition of The Chambers Dictionary – just click on http://www.chambersreference.com/ to sign up.

This year Chambers Harrap acquired the rights to the Brewer's imprint, most famous for Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. New publications under the Brewer's name in 2008 are Nettle Knickers and Exploding Toads, which came out in June, and (in October) a reissue of Rogues, Villains and Eccentrics, written by that roguish and eccentric villain Willie Donaldson.

Another major acquisition for the company is Jonathon Green's Dictionary of Slang. A new edition, Chambers Slang Dictionary will be published this October, with a launch party at the Cartoon Museum in London. A multi-volume title, derived from Jonathon's slang database, will then be published in 2009. It's the result of a lifetime of scholarship, but it's also delightfully rude and entertaining.

Chambers has prided itself on the high production values of its books to complement the quality of the content. Four books published this year illustrate this:

Chambers Gigglossary (published in July) offers an alphabetful of witty definitions, with the humorous definitions that set The Chambers Dictionary apart, as well as famous example from writers and humorists and a wealth of original material. It's been illustrated throughout by Iain McIntosh, who's known for his work on the Alexander McCall Smith books and is a very desirable little hardback.

Lost Crafts (out October) brings together almost 100 traditional skills and crafts in a gorgeous colour illustrated book. Miranda Krestovnikoff, presenter from BBC's Coast, called it 'a fascinating book which will inspire everyone, whether as a practical guide or just a brilliant read. There are things here which I have always wanted to try out – and now I can!' The eye-catching cover was created by the popular Rob Ryan.

Kiss Chase and Conkers is an illustrated celebration of over 80 games that we used to play when we were young and before the invention of the Playstation. It's a book will bring back memories of scuffed knees and happier, simpler times.

Foyle's Philavery by Christopher Foyle, the bestselling collection of unusual words, has been shortlisted in the Best British Book category at this year's British Book Design and Production Awards and the same lavish production will be applied to its successor Foyle's Further Philavery, out in September.