which online dictionary?

[xouper]

I noticed the other day that google has switched to using answers.com (http://www.answers.com/) instead of dictionary.com (http://dictionary.reference.com/) as its default link to definitions.

Do you have a preference for certain online dictionaries?

[Petra]

I used to love GuruNet. Best dictionary/encylopedia/etc software out there.

Then they changed it recently, and now it blows.


So, I'll stick with www.m-w.com for now.

[viscousmemories]

I've always used dictionary.com primarily, but after someone referred to Merriam-Webster (http://www.merriam-webster.com/) recently I started looking there. They seem to have much more precise definitions than dictionary.com. I've never seen answers.com, I'll have to check it out.

If I had money I'd pay to access the Oxford English Dictionary (http://www.oed.com) online.

Oops, cross-posted with lunachick. :)

[Skep]

I use OneLook Dictionary search and go from there.

http://www.onelook.com/

[xouper]

It seems that no sooner had I hit the submit button for the poll, there were suddenly three replies to this thread. Did the opening post appear before the poll showed up?

Or am I in a time warp? [cue twilight zone theme song]

[viscousmemories]

Yeah, that's a funky 'feature' of vbulletin: The thread OP is posted before the poll. :shrug:

[Godless Wonder]

I always just go to google and use the "define:" keyword
Not sure it's the best, but it's fast, and I usually have a google tab open already.

Edit: on review of the OP, I suppose that feature is already common knowledge.

[Ensign Steve]

Another vote for www.m-w.com. Your poll is flawed! :P

[livius drusus]

Out of habit (and the Firefox plugin) I use dictionary.com. I'm thinking I'll have to move to m-w given all the positive reviews here.

[godfry n. glad]

Okay.... I'm not from Planet X and I don't use any of those dictionaries.

Indeed, as a general rule, I don't use online dictionaries. Y'see, I've got this thing just above my CPU, on the shelf there...it's a hardcopy dictionary. I use it 'cause then I don't have to click out of the screen I'm working with, reading or writing. That is a desk copy of Webster's NewWorld Dictionary, Third College Edition. My colleague in the neighboring cube has an up to date American Heritage Dictionary. And, best of all....just a short walk, maybe 40', and I'm standing in front of the library's complete OED (but it's a 1961 printing).

Can you say "geezer"?

...I knew you could.

godfry

[Dingfod]

I'm lazy. Firefox plug-in allows me to highlight a word and open a new tab with dictionary.com. Besides listing several different definitions from several different sources for the word in question, scroll down the page a little on dictionary.com and there is a link to Merriam-Webster definition for the same word. Neat, huh?

[Ymir's blood]

I use OneLook Dictionary search and go from there.

http://www.onelook.com/
Another vote for Onelook. The reverse look feature is really fun too.

OneLook's reverse dictionary lets you describe a concept and get back a list of words and phrases related to that concept. Your description can be a few words, a sentence, a question, or even just a single word. Just type it into the box above and hit the "Find words" button. (Keep it short to get the best results.) In most cases you'll get back a list of related terms with the best matches shown first.

[Crumb]

another vote for www.m-w.com, though dictionary.com sounds interesting...

What is the name of that plug-in liv?

Oh I have an OED hard copy too

[viscousmemories]

I've been using Firefox's built in dictionary.com search engine too, but (inspired by this thread) I found that they now have a Merriam-Webster search too!

Linking to install file doesn't work, sorry. :(

[lisarea]

I use OneLook, too, for regular looking up a word purposes.*

I use Google as a spellcheck sometimes. I just do a search on the word and see if it's highlighted, but I almost never click through.

And I have a hardcopy OED, too, but it's the shrinky-dink version, so I am usually only motivated to haul it out and get out the magnifying glass to check if that crossword guy from the Nation is making up words again.

* Once on II, I linked to some word definition on OneLook, and some guy told me to stop using those biased liberal sites to bolster my arguments.

[viscousmemories]

Oh OneLook is cool. I've never seen that before. I tested it with the word 'chicken', and then followed the link to AskOxford, where I found the first definition is "a domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat, especially a young one."

What's an old chicken called?

[Crumb]

What's an old chicken called?

Dinner?

[lisarea]

Oh OneLook is cool. I've never seen that before. I tested it with the word 'chicken', and then followed the link to AskOxford, where I found the first definition is "a domestic fowl kept for its eggs or meat, especially a young one."

What's an old chicken called?

A hen, if it's a girl, and that other word I can't remember if it's a boy.

EDIT: Capon. But I think only if it's castrated. Maybe intact males are just roosters, but I don't know if that's an eatin' word or what. I've never seen roosters for eatin'.

[Crumb]

and that other word I can't remember if it's a boy.

Rooster or cock

[godfry n. glad]

What's an old chicken called?

Dinner?


Nah...Catfood.

[livius drusus]

What is the name of that plug-in liv?

The first one on this list (http://mycroft.mozdev.org/quick/dictionary.com.html), although I've just installed the m-w plug-in myself cause it's way better.

BTW, vm, your link doesn't work cause it's some javascript stuff. I just searched for Webster on the Mozdev homepage and found it. :)

[livius drusus]

EDIT: Capon. But I think only if it's castrated. Maybe intact males are just roosters, but I don't know if that's an eatin' word or what. I've never seen roosters for eatin'.

Roosters are almost never eaten cause they're stringy. Capons, otoh, are juicy and big and like turkeys only they taste good. I have eaten rooster combs, though. Grilled. They tasted like, well, chicken. And potato chips.

[Dingfod]

http://www.3e.org/dmd/humor/chickhead.jpg

[viscousmemories]

Thanks for the chicken info people. I'll have to look at why that link doesn't work. Interesting.

[Shake]

Another dictionary.com vote, but as a runner-up, I also use m-w (http://www.m-w.com/).

[JoeP]

mostly onelook.com - glad to see the reverse dictionary (http://www.onelook.com/reverse-dictionary.shtml) has already been mentioned

dictionary.com (even though I actually have bookmarked dictionary.reference.com, which it resolves to)

no one's mentioned the wiktionary (http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Main_Page) - not very comprehensive yet but some interesting content

urbandictionary has its place, of course

I haven't tried answers.com before, but it looks good

[xouper]

Ensign Steve: ... Your poll is flawed! :P
No doubt about that. I was afraid something like that might happen, that I would overlook some popular choices.

I claim no expertise in making polls. :)

[viscousmemories]

dictionary.com (even though I actually have bookmarked dictionary.com, which it resolves to)
Dictionary.com resolves to dictionary.com? You don't say... :chin:

[JoeP]

OKOK. I edited my post to say what I meant to say - dictionary.reference.com

[viscousmemories]

I officially withdraw the nice things I said about Merriam-Webster Online (www.m-w.com or www.webster.com). Yesterday I went there to look up the word 'unintelligible', and I got the following message:

Main Entry: unintelligible

unintelligible is one of more than 1,000,000 entries available at Merriam-WebsterUnabridged.com.

Click here to start your free trial!

:mad:

[Skep]

That's horseshit.

[Crumb]

/me removes his links to w-m.com