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August 5, 2011

No More Standalone Google Dictionary

Google Dictionary is no longer available as a standalone service at google.com/dictionary. You can still find it in Google Web Search and Google Translate. For example, you can search for [define keyword] and click "more" or search for [keyword] and click "Dictionary" in the search options sidebar.


{ Thanks, Arpit. }
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42 comments:

  1. RenjiAugust 5, 2011 at 11:10 PM

    "Google Dictionary" Chrome extension is still working.

    ReplyDelete
  2. MushafAugust 6, 2011 at 1:55 AM

    I don't understand why did they have to shut it down! Such an stupid decision. Google dictionary was really helpful for me. I'm feeling the same when they discontinued Google Notebook. It's the worst news to start the day with.

    ReplyDelete
  3. AnonymousAugust 6, 2011 at 3:37 AM

    Arrr! I'm so happy with my google dictionary google chrome extension! What would happen to the extension if they shut down the google dictionary? It's been so helpful to me. They even added pronunciation sound button recently. Please don't do this Google!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  4. AnonymousAugust 6, 2011 at 4:09 AM

    I too enjoy the Google dictionary, which is still working for me in Chrome, though the audible pronunciation function no longer does.

    I'm sure Google has some ingenious replacement in mind, perhaps embedded in some other service, but when they pull this kind of move, they come across as majesterial, if not arrogant.

    I appreciate all the free services that Google provides, but they really need to get a PR firm, because that's always been their weakness.

    ReplyDelete
  5. DanielAugust 6, 2011 at 5:16 AM

    I've come up with a (long) custom search engine to get to the Google Dictionary functionality, right away, that's worked for me every time:

    http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=%s#hl=en&prmdo=1&q=%s&tbs=dfn:1&tbo=u&sa=X&ei=fN87TrauE8zC0AG47cWRCQ&sqi=2&ved=0CBgQkQ4&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.&fp=fdbe5bcf5e3c173e&biw=1600&bih=837

    Hope it works for you too.

    See my post for more: http://cougarabogado.blogspot.com/2011/08/google-dictionary-has-gone-way-of-all.html

    ReplyDelete
  6. S.L.DebnathAugust 6, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    I hate this

    ReplyDelete
  7. AntonAugust 6, 2011 at 1:59 PM

    Please come back, dear dictionary!!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. fcamattiAugust 6, 2011 at 3:34 PM

    As Cougar Abogado said you can try to edit your search engine (in Google Chrome) to something like this:

    http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=en#sclient=psy&hl=en&site=webhp&source=hp&q=%s&tbs=dfn:1

    I believe that the argument in charge of this is this $tbs=dfn:1. I tried 3 times with this link and it works. I hope that it works for you. Please, let me know if it works for you too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. UnknownAugust 6, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    As of aug-6-2011, my google dictionary works perfectly fine. perhaps my pc hasn't got the "kill all humans" memo yet.

    im using;
    "Google Dictionary (by Google) - Version: 3.0.3".

    ReplyDelete
  10. DanielAugust 7, 2011 at 2:48 AM

    +Royce. Go to google.com/dictionary. What do you see?

    ReplyDelete
  11. AnonymousAugust 7, 2011 at 4:24 AM

    Oh, this is just horrible, and as Mushaf said - the worst kind of news to start a day with. I was heavily using the service, had over 400 marked words and now it's gone in a blink of an eye.
    Any of the links you guys provided don't work anymore, they closed all the loopholes. Incredibly sad.

    ReplyDelete
  12. lugordonAugust 7, 2011 at 9:10 AM

    I agree with all of you, and the Google dict is quite not the same with the Google translation in terms of its functinality and its usability. So I cannot either understand why Goolge made such decision.

    It is so bad when I just knew it was shut down by Google, because I have also used the Google Dictionary on the daily basis for a very long time with so much marked words saved there. I never thought that Google will be unwise to do this kind of horrible things without any notice just as other websites did.

    By the way, if you are using iGoogle with the google dictionary extention, it still partially works. That it, you can still input a term to check its meaning, but you cannot click on the "more" button to check the details of the explanation, which will redirect to the already closed Google Dictionary webpage.

    ReplyDelete
  13. AnonymousAugust 7, 2011 at 9:28 AM

    Then, how come the app for Chrome still works?

    ReplyDelete
  14. AnonymousAugust 7, 2011 at 11:55 AM

    I guess it's just affecting the website!

    ReplyDelete
  15. 哈哈斯巴特(HAHA Spart)August 7, 2011 at 8:05 PM

    I know Google want to integrate everything with Google Web Search, but Google combine Dictionary with it, it's really unconvenient to search for a vocabulary....I've been a Google fan long time,but this time ...Google do disappointed me... (maybe I can try Yahoo Dictionary instated...)

    ReplyDelete
  16. Akimi WongAugust 8, 2011 at 1:13 AM

    Web definitions - just citing results from different online dictionaries - simply sucks! It's OK if the results are the same as what were shown on Google Dictionary, but it's not! The chrome extension is not exactly the same thing either (just better than nothing). GIVE ME BACK GOOGLE DICTIONARY!!! (ROAR)

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousAugust 8, 2011 at 5:19 AM

    I really did use google dictionary for words I didn't know.....it was as simple as "define: (insert word)" and the search took a fraction of a second. I always got multiple definitions and this feature has helped me ace a lot of papers for school. Sad to see it gone.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Banking NewsAugust 8, 2011 at 11:09 AM

    Google web search is good, but online dictionary is good practice.

    ReplyDelete
  19. queAugust 8, 2011 at 2:23 PM

    The 'define' option in Docs still works.

    I too find it odd that they would get rid of the Dictionary URL when it is still available using other methods. Very strange.

    For those of you missing it. The Chrome extension works well and links to the full version when you click "more".

    In addition, I use the Chrome extension (available for FF too) called: DictionaryTip. You can select from a variety of dictionary sources. I use 'The Free Dictionary' as the source since it includes a lot of examples and a Thesaurus. Highly recommended.

    ReplyDelete
  20. angry birdsAugust 8, 2011 at 8:01 PM

    Google web search is good, my king of internet

    ReplyDelete
  21. Virtual Business AssistantAugust 8, 2011 at 8:58 PM

    Websearch of Google is good and its helps us to get to refine our search for keywords but I loved Dictionary. I hope it comes back...

    ReplyDelete
  22. Ecommerce DevelopmentAugust 9, 2011 at 4:29 AM

    I have never used Google dictionary. I always use the search using define to find the definitions or meaning!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Dream ChaserAugust 9, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    Please listen to your users, Google Admin... There are already hundreds of complains in http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Web%20Search/thread?tid=0a8dae9bbdd70e5c&hl=en

    and more.. just not all centralized.
    Google Dictionary has been an excellent tool. If you want to have your users go to the web engine, please at least integrate it in such a way the functionality is still the same and not downgraded. Afterall, this piece has been very well developed, so why flush it down the toilet?

    Google translate and define X may be suitable for some of your clients. But definitely there is another group of people that depend on google dictionary as well. Why ignore their need? Isn't Google supposed to be user-centered?

    ReplyDelete
  24. DanielAugust 9, 2011 at 4:24 PM

    Here's a question: Did google.com/dictionary have ads on it, and does the new location contain ads? (I'm unsure because I use AdBlock.) If it was ad free, I imagine that may have had an impact on why Google folded the service into google.com -- because, to be fair, I believe the new location comes with the same functionality as the standalone service, with maybe stars as the one casualty. Moreover, with the new location, a user can now expand his search past the dictionary to images, videos, etc. with one click.

    In the end, though I agree with Dream Chaser on making Google user-centric, I imagine very few of us (as a percentage of users) actually navigated to google.com/dictionary to define a term -- I presume most people probably just typed in the word or used "define x." If I'm Google, why continue a stand alone service if I can obtain more revenue from it and add additional functionality to the service, all for the cost of a couple extra clicks (or a search engine shortcut) for the google.com/dictionary fans (myself included)?

    ReplyDelete
  25. UnknownAugust 9, 2011 at 6:12 PM

    I always think Google Dictionary has the same important attribute as either web search or Gmail. I used Google Dictionary as often as its web search. The alternate approach for online dictionary suggested by Google is absolutely no replacement for the original powerful Google Dictionary. Please bring it back ASAP. My life now becomes so empty without Google Dictionary

    ReplyDelete
  26. 七红双木August 9, 2011 at 8:43 PM

    Well, Google probably don't need to entertain those G-Dictionary fans. But if they really want to integrate their web services, why don't close the 'Google Translate' as well? Is there any research indicating that Googlers prefer to Translate rather than Dictionary??? I don't really think so.

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousAugust 9, 2011 at 10:18 PM

    1. The new 'search dictionary' gives NO TRANSLATED EXPLANATION

    2. The translator could provide ONLY LITERAL TRANSLATION, which is a joke in terms of usefulness as an English language learning tool. And even its LITERAL TRANSLATION is of garbage calibre

    3. Google Dictionary had reached an advanced stage in which even the most complex English phrases' definition could be found, along with translated explanation.

    4. The new Dictionary couldn't even yield definition for the most common Idioms and English phrases, let alone translated explanations.

    These are the most crucial aspects, among many others, that instigated the outcry, Google. Do something about it..

    ReplyDelete
  28. AnonymousAugust 9, 2011 at 10:19 PM

    1. The new 'search dictionary' gives NO TRANSLATED EXPLANATION

    2. The translator could provide ONLY LITERAL TRANSLATION, which is a joke in terms of usefulness as an English language learning tool. And even its LITERAL TRANSLATION is of garbage calibre

    3. Google Dictionary had reached an advanced stage in which even the most complex English phrases' definition could be found, along with translated explanation.

    4. The new Dictionary couldn't even yield definition for the most common Idioms and English phrases, let alone translated explanations.

    These are the most crucial aspects, among many others, that instigated the outcry, Google. Do something about it..

    ReplyDelete
  29. AnonymousAugust 9, 2011 at 10:27 PM

    Google, show us you care, show us that your 'users' charter' isn't simply a propagandist gimmick. We want peace, we want good old dictionary. No dictionary on earth could compete with Google Dictionary's sophistication and completeness. We demand for it to be reinstated. Listen to your constituents, please, I beg you. You can take away my money and I would still be good, but if you take away Google Dictionary, I am half-dead.

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousAugust 10, 2011 at 12:11 AM

    This is unreasonable man making unreasonable decision. Google Dictionary is a most powerful tools in the world. There is no any other competitor able to provide the same.


    However, has Google Management never known their advantage? Don't they know that their dictionary service is at the leading position in the market?


    Now, Google is destorying their competitive advantage. They closed Google Dictionary and provide a less powerful and unuseful tool instead. What's the problem?


    This would become a joke in the world. Your competitor would welcome this action. But...... Seriously... Your users would hate you.


    If you respect your users, please listen their needs.

    ReplyDelete
  31. AnonymousAugust 10, 2011 at 2:18 AM

    Google dictionary: "I'll be back" !!!"

    ReplyDelete
  32. AnonymousAugust 10, 2011 at 2:30 AM

    Google dictionary: " Asta la vista !!!"

    ReplyDelete
  33. Rakesh KumarAugust 10, 2011 at 10:39 AM

    Well this is quite bad news for all of us but i believe Google will bring something new to us soon.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Male EnhancementAugust 10, 2011 at 10:42 AM

    I use Google Translate all the time. Very convenient and pretty accurate in translation.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Penis EnlargementAugust 10, 2011 at 10:44 AM

    At least there is still a Chrome extension!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Angry Birds for pcAugust 10, 2011 at 8:35 PM

    i wonderhow how come the app for Chrome still works? :S

    ReplyDelete
  37. AnonymousAugust 11, 2011 at 8:31 PM

    From now on, I will support any antitrust suits to break up Google.

    ReplyDelete
  38. AnonymousAugust 25, 2011 at 6:40 PM

    Please come back, dear dictionary!!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. AnonymousAugust 30, 2011 at 3:10 AM

    Try using a free program that gathers together all the possibilities Google.
    For example: DictionaryBlend http://www.forcemem.com/products/DictionaryBlend.htm

    ReplyDelete
  40. allan dewsSeptember 1, 2011 at 9:39 AM

    i don't mind this moves as long that Google offer an alternative that work more or little less than the original one... :-)

    ReplyDelete
  41. AnonymousOctober 14, 2011 at 9:39 PM

    good alternatives:

    http://conjugator.reverso.net/conjugation-english.html
    http://dictionary.com/

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  42. JeffyeFebruary 24, 2013 at 10:47 PM

    I find one providing service via Google's api: http://goodictionary.so8848.com/

    ReplyDelete

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