Google expands word definition box, makes looking up ten-dollar words easier

Here’s one for the logophiles and the voracious readers: searching for words on Google now returns more than their definitions. So, next time you look up a fancy term, the definition box will also contain its synonyms, sample sentences and a drop-down menu that can translate the word into another language. The new results even give you a glimpse of a word’s origins and show a graph of how commonly it’s used over time. While a relatively minor update, it’s boosted by the addition of a new voice function: when you tap on the Search microphone and ask questions such as “What is the definition of / What are the synonyms of [a word],” a voice will read the first result out loud. All these features are now active on both desktops and Google’s mobile Search apps in the US, ready to lend a hand during weekend Scrabble parties.

Filed under: ,

Comments

Source: Google+

A Full, Offline Thesaurus in Your Pocket to Impress Anyone, Anywhere

Sure, there may already be a veritable cornucopia of dictionaries, thesauruses, and other word reference apps out there, but Thesaurus Rex is the thesaurus app to end all thesaurus apps. Packed with more information than you could ever hope to know and fast to boot, this will become the last word reference software you’ll need. More »