Google Hacks 2Nd Edition [Electronic resources] نسخه متنی

Hack 9. Consult the Dictionary

Google, in addition to its own spellchecking
index, provides hooks into Dictionary.com .

Google's spellchecking [Hack #5] is built on 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). Such definitions,
coming from a credible source and augmented by various specialty
indexes, can be more limited.

Run a search. On the results page, you'll notice 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
jargon ). If you search for a
word's meaning and Google can't
help you, try enlisting the services of a meta-search dictionary,
like OneLook (http://www.onelook.com/), which indexes over
six million words from over 1,000 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
wordsyou're reading a technical manual, for
examplesearch for them 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 two million results for many different kinds of
glossaries. See [Hack #20]
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, which is 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 post fan sites and other informal cultural
collections 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 fast and easy. But even more obscure
words can be quickly found if you apply a little creative thinking.