Google, in addition to its own spellchecking index, provides hooks into Dictionary.com.
Google’s own spellchecking [Hack #15] is built upon its own word and phrase database gleaned while indexing web pages. Thus it provides suggestions for lesser known proper names, phrases, common sentence constructs, etc. Google also offers a definition service powered by Dictionary.com (http://www.dictionary.com/). Definitions, while coming from a credible source and augmented by various specialty indexes, can be more limited.
Run a search. You’ll notice on the results page the
phrase “Searched the web for [query
words].” If the query words would appear in a
dictionary, they will be hyperlinked to a dictionary definition.
Identified phrases will be linked as a phrase; for example, the query
"jolly
roger"
will allow you to
look up the phrase “jolly roger.”
On the other hand, the phrase "computer legal"
will allow you to look up the separate words
“computer” and
“legal.”
The definition search will sometimes fail on obscure words, very new
words, slang, and technical vocabularies (otherwise known as
specialized slang). If you search for a word’s
meaning and Google can’t help you, try enlisting the
services of a metasearch dictionary, like OneLook (http://www.onelook.com/) which indexes over 4
million words in over 700 dictionaries. If that
doesn’t work, try Google again with one of the
following tricks, queryword
being the word
you want to find:
If you’re searching for several
words—you’re reading a technical manual, for
example—search for several of the words at the same time.
Sometimes you’ll find a glossary this way. For
example, maybe you’re reading a book about
marketing, and you don’t know many of the words. If
you search for storyboard stet SAU
,
you’ll get only a few search results, and
they’ll all be glossaries.
Try searching for your word and the word glossary
;
say, stet glossary
. Be sure to use an unusual
word; you may not know what a
“spread” is in the context of
marketing but searching for spread glossary
will
get you over 300,000 results for many different kinds of glossaries.
See [Hack #19] for language translation.
Try searching for the phrase queryword
means
or the words What does
queryword
mean?
.
If you’re searching for a
medical
or a technical item, narrow your search to educational
(.edu
) sites. If you want a contextual
definition for using equine acupuncture and how it might be used to
treat laminitis, try "equine acupuncture" laminitis
.
site:edu
will give you a brief list of results.
Furthermore, you’ll avoid book lists and online
stores; handy if you’re seeking information and
don’t necessarily want to purchase anything. If
you’re searching for slang, try narrowing your
search to sites like Geocities and Tripod, and see what happens.
Sometimes young people put fan sites and other informal cultural
collections up on free places like Geocities, and using these you can
find many examples of slang in context instead of dry lists of
definitions. There are an amazing number of glossaries on Geocities;
search for glossary site:geocities.com
, and see
for yourself.
Google’s connection with Dictionary.com means that simple definition checking is very fast and easy. But even more obscure words can be quickly found if you apply a little creative thinking.