The BEST way to use dictionary - Seriously!

[James Philp]

I'm posting this because people seem to still be using the Dictionary Dashboard Widget. There is a MUCH better way (in browsers, mail, apple apps etc)
Here's what you do:

1. Open up the dictionary app in Applications (note DO NOT move it to another (nested) folder - it needs to be in the Applications folder only)
2. Go to preferences and make sure "Open Dictionary panel" is checked
3. Close the app.
4. Now hold down ctrl-apple and hit D. Keep the ctrl-apple held down and then move your mouse over a certain word like: improvement
5. Voila - one of the best thing ever!
See attachments for this working!

 

[jsw]

Yeah, this has already become one of my favorite Tiger features - it doesn't work in everything, but it is almost universal.

 

[James Philp]

Yeah, this has already become one of my favorite Tiger features - it doesn't work in everything, but it is almost universal.

Of course, it doesn't work in MS Office - like it ever would - GRrrrrr

 

[Daveway]

Will it still look up all my favorite 4 letter words and vulgar slang? 😛

 

[jsw]

Will it still look up all my favorite 4 letter words and vulgar slang? 😛

Seems to work on most if not all of them!

 

[ColoJohnBoy]

Holy cool, I had no idea one could switch between diacritical and IPA. I know, nerdy to the hilt, but seriously. Wicked. 🙂

 

[rendezvouscp]

Holy cool, I had no idea one could switch between diacritical and IPA. I know, nerdy to the hilt, but seriously. Wicked. 🙂

What are those options?
-Chase

 

[jsw]

What are those options?
-Chase

control-⌘-D on the words for the definitions! 😉

BTW, can anyone figure out how to get a screenshot of the dictionary popup in action? Seems to disappear whenever I try.

 

[Jalexster]

control-?-D on the words for the definitions! 😉

BTW, can anyone figure out how to get a screenshot of the dictionary popup in action? Seems to disappear whenever I try.

Use Timed Screen with Grab.

 

[jsw]

Use Timed Screen with Grab.

Excellent - thanks!

 

[snickelfritz]

Try this:
Command-Shift-4, followed by Command-Control-D, then click on a word; the definition will pop-up. Now mouse over other words and the definitions will pop-up like rollover buttons. =P
Click on a non-text area to turn off the mouse-over behavior.

 

[James Philp]

Try this:
Command-Shift-4, followed by Command-Control-D, then click on a word; the definition will pop-up. Now mouse over other words and the definitions will pop-up like rollover buttons. =P
Click on a non-text area to turn off the mouse-over behavior.

not as useful IMO as just command-control-D (then hold down command-control) and just mouse over words.

 

[puckhead193]

awesome tip

 

[billyb]

no firefox either

sure wish it worked with Firefox...

 

[mkrishnan]

Of course, it doesn't work in MS Office - like it ever would - GRrrrrr

True, but Office already had its own one before Tiger....

 

[biohazard6969]

i love you, you made tiger so much better 😀

 

[Jaffa Cake]

(note DO NOT move it to another (nested) folder - it needs to be in the Applications folder only)

Thanks James – I knew about this feature but couldn't for the life of me get it to work. I like to tidy away my apps into neat little folders but didn't realise it would break the dictionary. I've moved it back and problem solved!

 

[James Philp]

True, but Office already had its own one before Tiger....

Sorry but the office one sucks! I have to ctrl-click, get a bunch of options (about formatting yada yada yada) and then go to dictionary, it then opens up a separate panel (as it always does) and has the definition then - rubbish implementation! You can't just mouse over words like with the apple version.

 

[James Philp]

Thanks James – I knew about this feature but couldn't for the life of me get it to work. I like to tidy away my apps into neat little folders but didn't realise it would break the dictionary. I've moved it back and problem solved!

Yeah, it's a bugger. Hopefully a small fix in the future.

 

[4409723]

Just for clarification, this only works in Cocoa applications right? That's what I think determines whether this will work or not.

 

[irmongoose]

Yes.




irmongoose

 

[mkrishnan]

Sorry but the office one sucks! I have to ctrl-click, get a bunch of options (about formatting yada yada yada) and then go to dictionary, it then opens up a separate panel (as it always does) and has the definition then - rubbish implementation! You can't just mouse over words like with the apple version.

Yeah, that's true. It's also been around for a year and a half though! 😉

 

[wwooden]

Hey, thanks for the tip. Now if this could only be used in Office 2004, it would be really useful for me.

 

[sourcemonkey]

thanks for the tip. it will be of use, but i generally use the widget-dictionary before i type the word (if i don't know the spelling)... copy... paste... done.

The best way NOT to use the dictionary is to read more.

 

[fabsgwu]

thanks for the tip. it will be of use, but i generally use the widget-dictionary before i type the word (if i don't know the spelling)... copy... paste... done.

The best way NOT to use the dictionary is to read more.

You can also right (ctrl) click on a word and select define, it pops up with the dictionary app. P.S. You can now print documents from the finder via contextual menu 🙂