Google Adds Define Syntax

Google ( http://www.google.com ) has added a new special syntax to find definitions. It's define, and unlike many search syntaxes which work just with a colon (site:google.com), define works in two different ways.

Let's try the first way. Type define herculean -- that is the word define, a space, and then the word or phrase you want (don't use quotes.). At the top of the results page you'll see "Web Definition: herculean - displaying superhuman strength or power; "herculean exertions" www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn ." You'll also see a link to more definitions. And beneath that you'll see a regular page of search results.

How do you get a list of definitions by itself with no search results? By using define the second way: with a colon. Type define:herculean . You'll get two results, because that's all there is. Now type define:gross national product . You'll get a ton of results, all in one page.

There's a good thing and a bad thing about this syntax. The bad thing is that the definitions are pulled from all over the Web, so there's no one authorative repository for the definitions. The good thing is that the definitions are pulled from all over the Web, so that in addition to definitions you often get background and conceptual information (some of the gross national product definitions are very extensive.) Some of the definitions were beyond me; I didn't know there were so many different meanings for the word "Cheese".

Posted to Search Engines-Google