how do v read the pronounciations in the dictionary?

Answer 1

Usually dictionaries have the guide for reading their pronunciations in the first pages.

Answer 2

Dictionaries by different publishers use different systems of 'Phonetic Pronunciation'. There's usually an explanation at the beginning of the dictionary.

If you don't like the system they have used, I would use a different dictionary. Some dictionaries use very academic, formal or old-fashioned systems that are difficult to use.

They often have special characters that most people don't know how to pronounce, such as a combined 'oe' symbol.

Modern dictionaries for average people use simple systems with the phonetic spelling of a word using ordinary letters. See encarta example link. Sometimes they even say what a word rhymes with.

If you're learning english, there are talking dictionaries online or on CD/DVD-ROM.

Answer 3

Try using online audio pronunciations(free). Then you won't have to worry about looking at those weird characters!
For general searches: http://www.answers.com
For medical dictionary searches: http://www.kmle.com

Dictionaries by different publishers use different systems of pronunciation keys. There's usually a page at the start of the dictionary.

If your having trouble with a certain dictionary try using a different dictionary. Some dictionaries use very old character format that is difficult to understand and use. Recent dictionaries use phonetic pronunciation using normal letters instead of weird greek characters.

To truly answer your question, each dictionary uses it's own format, any dictionary worth it's salt should have a pronunciation key(character and word example) somewhere.

For example for the american heritage dictionary:
ă pat
ā pay
âr care
ä father
b bib
ch church
d deed, milled
ĕ pet
ē bee
f fife, phase, rough
g gag
h hat
hw which
ĭ pit
ī pie, by
îr pier
j judge
k kick, cat, pique
l lid, needle (nēd'l)
m mum
n no, sudden (sŭd'n)
ng thing
ŏ pot
ō toe
ô caught, paw, for, horrid, hoarse
oi noise
ʊ took
ū boot
ou out
p pop
r roar
s sauce
sh ship, dish
t tight, stopped
th thin
th this
ŭ cut
ûr urge, term, firm, word, heard
v valve
w with
y yes
z zebra, xylem
zh vision, pleasure, garage
ə about, item, edible, gallop, circus
ər butter
Foreign
œ French feu, German schön; French oeuf, German zwölf
ü French tu, German über
KH German ich; German ach, Scottish loch
N French bon (bôN)

But this is different for every dictionary