Google Dictionary – Returns Search Answers

Over at the L.A. Times they note that Google has “quietly rolled out” a totally new feature–Google Dictionary. It’s simple: When you google a word or phrase inside the Dictionary page, Google returns search answers that gives you the definition of your search phrase drawn from its own database, academically approved sources and Wikipedia.

Sounds easy, doesn’t it? And it marries with Google’s previous efforts to expand its services very neatly–particularly since Google is now the world’s expert on “looking things up.” But the potential effects are pretty huge. Because the big dictionary makers each have their own effort at capturing an online audience to supplement falling sales of their ink and paper copies–a change caused by automated spell-checkers and the rise of the Net. And now they’re simply going to lose some of their online business to Google without Google having to make much of an effort. Of course those with an academic bent will probably want to know the authoritative definitions and etymology of particular words, and they’ll continue to be big-name dictionary customers. For now. Because you can bet it won’t be long before Google’s mastery over the dictionary is total.