The Encyclopedic Dictionary (in three volumes), published by the Main Editorial Board of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia, is intended for wide circles of Soviet readers. The purpose of the Encyclopedic Dictionary is to provide the shortest possible explanation of concepts and terms and some important background information on issues arising from reading books, magazines, newspapers, in connection with lectures, reports, etc. p. Small-scale articles of the Dictionary, of course, can not contain exhaustive data or explanations . Edited by , The Reader , Interested in detailed information on certain issues , Address to special works and reference books , as well as the articles of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia , The second edition of which is intended to be a systematized body of knowledge in the socio-economic sciences , Science and Technology . The Encyclopedic Dictionary includes about 40,000 articles. A great place in the Dictionary is occupied by references to historical events, about the Union and autonomous republics, regions, regions and cities of the USSR, foreign countries, about the branches of science and technology, about political figures and figures of science, literature, art. A significant part of the articles contains an explanation of scientific terms from the field of philosophy, economics, natural science, medicine and other branches of knowledge.