Using FireFox as a Dictionary

For months and months, I have been looking for an way to find the definition of a word without needing to clutter up my toolbar or break my streamlined surfing habits. Sure, I can type "definition:esplanade" in my Google search bar, but then I have to click on the underlined word to get the definition. That's one too many clicks.

Enter FireFox smart keywords. I simply created a new bookmark:

Name: Answers.com Dictionary
Location: http://www.answers.com/%s&r=67
Keyword: d

FireFox will essentially take anything that appears after my keyword in the address bar and plugs it in where the %s is in the bookmark's location. That means all I have to do now is type 'd esplanade' in my FireFox address bar and I'm served up the definition.

And that's today's geekery from your septentrional friend...

BONUS TIP: Add this bookmark to lookup either cities by zipcode or zipcodes by city. This allows you to type things like "z Crodyon, PA" or "z 19021" in the address bar and get the quick skinny:

Name: ZIP Info
Location: http://zipinfo.com/cgi-local/zipsrch.exe?zip=%s&Go=Go
Keyword: z

  • posted on 7 August 2006
  • by Jesse

InterAction:

7 August 20061. Mark:

Nice tip! The process I use in Firefox involves simply adding Dictionary Search, then selecting and right-clicking a word or phrase.

7 August 20062. Marlo:

I had to look up septentrional.

7 August 20063. Jesse Gardner:

I also just quickly thought of another great use for this approach... the ZIP code hunt. Added that tip in the entry.

@Mark: Good call. The mouse is too far away from my keyboard for that approach, though. Trying to avoid RSI's.

@Marlo: Are you septentrional? I forget.

7 August 20064. Mark:

Ha! I had to look it up, too!

Your mouse is too far away? Do you really browse with no mouse? Wow, I'm speechless.

14 August 20065. Chad Everett:

Expanding on your zip code idea, you can use Google Maps (you can use others as well, but I prefer Google) with something like this:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%s

And the magic keyword "map" (or whatever you prefer), to enter "map Crodyon, PA" or "map 19021" (or update with what you used) for a pretty map instead of just finding out basic info about it. :)

15 August 20066. Jesse Gardner:

One step ahead of you, Chad. The possibilities are really jumping out at me, and since I'm a Google Maps addict, that was a natural... thanks for the tip though. I've discovered a few more I'll share in a day or two.

16 August 20067. iGirl:

I just have a customized searchbar on the top right corner of my firefox browser, so if I need a definition I just click on the little Google logo and select the Answers.com logo. I also keep other helpful sites in the options there, like yahoo, dogpile, amazon, freetranslation, and wikipedia. Saves me a lot of clicks.

If anyone doesn't know how to do that in firefox, just click on the "G" icon in the searchbar and go down to "customize engines." It's pretty easy IMO. But Jesse, your idea sounds great and I might try it sometime for sites that are not available for the searchbar.

YourThoughts?


(Minutia)

This entry was written by Jesse on Monday, August 7, 2006 at 6:31 AM and appears in the 0's and 1's chapter. The previous article was entitled, "What's On YouTube Tonight, Dear? (Part 1)", and the next entry is called, "The Gauntlet Challenge". Bookmark the permalink, save it to del.icio.us or Digg it.

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