Dictionary (software)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dictionary | |
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 The Dictionary window with the new Tiger visual theme |
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| Developer: | Apple Inc. |
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| Latest release: | 1.0.1 |
| OS: | Mac OS X |
| Use: | dictionary |
| Website: | http://www.apple.com |
The Dictionary application, developed by Apple for its Macintosh computers, was introduced with Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger". It provides definitions and synonyms from the New Oxford American Dictionary, 2nd Edition and Oxford American Writers Thesaurus, 1st Edition.
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[edit] History
OS X's progenitor, OPENSTEP (and NEXTSTEP) provided similar functionality, called Digital Webster, providing dictionary and thesaurus definitions from Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary and Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus (termed the "First Digital Edition"). OPENSTEP Services provide lookup from all applications.
[edit] Functionality
The dictionary and thesaurus in Dictionary are in an XML format, but make use of precompiled binary index files to access the XML file directly, excluding the option of expansion of the dictionary.
The key combination ⌃ ⌘ D can be used in Cocoa applications which display text — it brings up a small contextual menu-like definition or synonym of the word under the cursor.
Apple also included a Dashboard Widget for accessing the Dictionary application. In applications which support "Services", there is an option in the application menu (for example, Safari>Services>Look up in Dictionary) which brings up the Dictionary application and displays the definition of a selected word.
The application's preferences allow a user to select from three different pronunciation schemes, either US English (Diacritical or IPA), or British English (IPA).
[edit] Errata
- The lexicon of the English language spell checking services (which are also universally accessible in Cocoa applications) are not the same as the Dictionary's lexicon. Thus, the New Oxford American Dictionary 2nd Edition is not the basis for spell checking in Mac OS X "Tiger".
- Double clicking on any word searches for that word in the dictionary again; you can click on almost any word except the pronunciations in phonetic characters and numerals.
- Apple catches any queries to the
dict://protocol, say from a web browser, and routes them back to the Dictionary application.
[edit] Images
 Dictionary can be accessed through applications that support Mac OS X Services. |
 Dictionary defining a word in Safari; a WebKit/Cocoa application in Mac OS X v10.4. |
 The Dictionary widget within the new Tiger Dashboard. |
 Looking up tiger. |
Applications
Address Book • Automator • Calculator • Chess • Dashboard • Dictionary • DVD Player • Finder • Front Row • Grapher • iCal • iChat • iSync • iTunes • Mail • Photo Booth • Preview • QuickTime Player • Safari • Sherlock • Stickies • TextEdit
Utilities
Activity Monitor • AirPort Admin Utility • Audio MIDI Setup • Bluetooth File Exchange • BOMArchiveHelper • Classic • ColorSync Utility • Console • Crash Reporter • DigitalColor Meter • Directory Access • DiskImageMounter • Disk Utility • Font Book • Grab • Help Viewer • Image Capture • Installer • Internet Connect • Keychain Access • Migration Assistant • NetInfo Manager • Network Utility • ODBC Administrator • Printer Setup Utility • Software Update • System Preferences • System Profiler • Terminal • Universal Access • VoiceOver • X11
Technology & User interface (future features italicized)
⌘ • ⌥ • Apple Advanced Typography • AppleScript • Aqua • ATSUI • Audio Units • Bonjour • Boot Camp • Carbon • Cocoa • ColorSync • Core Animation • Core Audio • Core Data • Core Foundation • Core Image • Core Video • CUPS • Darwin • Exposé • FileVault • icns • Inkwell • I/O Kit • Keychain • Mach-O • OpenGL • Preference Pane • plist • Quartz • QuickTime • Rosetta • Smart folders • Spaces • Spotlight • Time Machine • Uniform Type Identifier • Universal binary • WebKit • Xgrid • XNU
