F3.5-5.6= its the dept of field... meaning at 18MM the biggest aperture the lens will go is f3.5 and at 55MM the biggest would be f5.6. As the number goes up the apperture becomes small.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tut...h-of-field.htm

EDII= ED glass, Extra-low Dispersion it's a series of Nikon lenses
AF= auto focus
DX=lense made for Digital SLR