Help: Search Box

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1.1

Search TheFreeDictionary

1.1.1	Word/Article

1.1.2	Starts with

1.1.3	Ends with

1.1.4	Text

1.2	Search elsewhere on the web

1	Search Box	Search TheFreeDictionary using our four different search options, or search the web.

1.1	Search TheFreeDictionary	A default search includes all of TheFreeDictionary reference databases (all dictionaries and encyclopedias). Your initial search results will correspond to whatever tab (representing a dictionary or encyclopedia) is currently active. If the Wikipedia tab is active, the display results will originate from Wikipedia. If you are on the homepage, results displayed will originate from the default Dictionary/Thesaurus tab. Every time you perform a search, you can easily access the relevant entries in our other dictionaries and encyclopedias; just click on another tab.

1.1

Search TheFreeDictionary

A default search includes all of TheFreeDictionary reference databases (all dictionaries and encyclopedias). Your initial search results will correspond to whatever tab (representing a dictionary or encyclopedia) is currently active. If the Wikipedia tab is active, the display results will originate from Wikipedia. If you are on the homepage, results displayed will originate from the default Dictionary/Thesaurus tab.

Every time you perform a search, you can easily access the relevant entries in our other dictionaries and encyclopedias; just click on another tab.

1.1.1

Word/Article

This is the most common type of search, and it satisfies most search needs. For example, if you search for the word dog, you will see something like this:

dog

(dôg, d

1. A domesticated carnivorous mammal (Canis familiaris) related to the foxes and wolves and raised in a wide variety of breeds.

2. Any of various carnivorous mammals of the family Canidae, such as the dingo.

3. A male animal of the family Canidae, especially of the fox or a domesticated breed.

4. Any of various other animals, such as the prairie dog.

5. Informal

a. A person: You won, you lucky dog.

b. A person regarded as contemptible: You stole my watch, you dog.

6. Slang

a. A person regarded as unattractive or uninteresting.

b. Something of inferior or low quality: "The President had read the speech to some of his friends and they told him it was a dog" John P. Roche.

c. An investment that produces a low return or a loss.

7. dogs Slang The feet.

8. See andiron.

9. Slang A hot dog; a wiener.

10. Any of various hooked or U-shaped metallic devices used for gripping or holding heavy objects.

11. Astronomy A sun dog.

adv.

Totally; completely. Often used in combination: dog-tired.

tr.v. dogged, dog·ging, dogs

1. To track or trail persistently: "A stranger then is still dogging us" Arthur Conan Doyle.

2. To hold or fasten with a mechanical device: "Watertight doors and hatches were dropped into place and dogged down to give the ship full watertight integrity" Tom Clancy.

Idioms:

dog it Slang

To fail to expend the effort needed to do or accomplish something.

go to the dogs

To go to ruin; degenerate.

put on the dog Informal

To make an ostentatious display of elegance, wealth, or culture.

[Middle English dogge, from Old English docga.]

1.1.2

Starts with

If you want to find a phrase that starts with "London," your search results will be restricted to articles that begin with the word "London" and you will see something like this:

Words starting with London:

London	London (Britain)	London (Canada)	London (England)
London (Great Britain)	London (region)	London (UK)	London (United Kingdom)
London Borough of Barking and Dagenham	London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham	London Borough of Haringey	London Borough of Havering
London Borough of Newham	London Borough of Tower Hamlets	London Borough of Waltham Forest	London Bridge
London Britain	London broil	London broils	London Cathedral
London College of Music	London Commodity Exchange	London Company	London Conference
London Contemporary Dance Theatre	London County Council	London Docklands	London England
London Evening News	London Evening Standard	London Eye	London Film-Maker's Co-op
London Financial Guide	London Fixing	London Gatwick Airport	London Gazette
London gold fixing	London Group	London Heathrow Airport	London Horticultural Society
London Interbank Bid Rate	London Interbank Bid Rate - LIBID	London Interbank Offer Rate - LIBOR	London Interbank Offered Rate
London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange	London International Financial Futures Exchange	London Metal Exchange	London Metal Exchange - LME
London Metro	London N17

1.1.3

Ends with

If you want to find a phrase that ends with the word "Stones," your search results will be restricted to articles that end with "Stones," and you will see something like this:

Words ending with Stones:

Abraxas Stones	Augrim stones	Bezoar Stones	Billiary stones
Calcium stones	coping stones	Druid stones	Ear stones
foundation stones	Gall stones	Gallbladder stones	gibber stones
Gout stones	kerbstones	Kidney stones	Lively stones
living stones	logan stones	metate stones	Meteoric stones
paving stones	Precious stones	pumice stones	quoin stones
Renal stones	Rocking Stones	Rolling Stones	Rosetta stones
Rune stones	runner stones	sarsen stones	staddle stones
Standing stones	stepping stones	Sticks&Stones	Stones
The Rolling Stones	Throat stones	tombstones	Tonsil stones

. . .

1.1.4

Text

A text search scans all articles for any mention of your search term. This type of search will return the widest range of results. For example, if you search for the word "carbon," your results will originate from all existing tabs, and you will see something like this:

Words with carbon in definition:

carbon cycle	Carbon dioxide sink	carbon fiber	carbon monoxide
carbon monoxide poisoning	carbon tetrachloride	carbon black	activated carbon
carbon copy	fatty alcohol	fullerene	carbon star
RuBisCO	soot	Case hardening	organic chemistry
carbon steel	carbon paper	graphite	hydrocarbon
enol	alkene	carbon disulfide	crucible steel
Carbon fiber reinforced plastic

. . .

There were more than 200 results. Only 200 most relevant are shown.

1.2	Search elsewhere on the web	In addition to the TheFreeDictionary, you can also search Google, Yahoo!, eBay and Amazon. The Word / Article, Starts with, Ends with and Text options are not available for web searches. This feature is especially useful if you make TheFreeDictionary your homepage: your search options become unlimited. The external search is a good option when you find that TheFreeDictionary has reached its limitations. For example, once you have searched "GPS" on TheFreeDictionary and have learned that it stands for "Global Positioning System," you may want to check out prices for the device and perform a search on eBay or Amazon. Another example could be a word like "giclee," which is not very well defined in current dictionaries; you may want to find additional information about "giclee" elsewhere on the web by clicking the Google radio button.

1.2

Search elsewhere on the web

In addition to the TheFreeDictionary, you can also search Google, Yahoo!, eBay and Amazon.

The Word / Article, Starts with, Ends with and Text options are not available for web searches.

This feature is especially useful if you make TheFreeDictionary your homepage: your search options become unlimited.

The external search is a good option when you find that TheFreeDictionary has reached its limitations. For example, once you have searched "GPS" on TheFreeDictionary and have learned that it stands for "Global Positioning System," you may want to check out prices for the device and perform a search on eBay or Amazon. Another example could be a word like "giclee," which is not very well defined in current dictionaries; you may want to find additional information about "giclee" elsewhere on the web by clicking the Google radio button.