Webster's Online Dictionary
From LoveToKnow Online
Webster’s Online Dictionary is a free online dictionary that is based on Webster’s 1913 unabridged dictionary. From there, additional definitions, quotes, references, timelines, and translations have been and continue to be added.
Project Mission
The mission of developers behind Webster’s Online Dictionary is to create the largest free dictionary of modern language. When completed, it is expected to contain more than 400 modern languages, 10 ancestral languages, and more than 30 million individual expressions, technical terms, and words.
Webster’s Online Dictionary History
Webster’s Online Dictionary began in 1999, but it took another four years before the first content was accessible online. This website is the property of INSEAD, which is a non-profit international education institution located in Fontainebleau, France and Singapore.
While the online dictionary is founded on the 1913 Webster’s unabridged dictionary, INSEAD has steadily increased the database with donated, copyright-free content in an attempt to become the most complete multi-lingual online dictionary available at no charge to the public.
Online Dictionary Features
The dictionary offers several features of interest to both the average Internet user and the inquisitive webmaster.
Webmaster Tools
With a few clicks of the mouse, a webmaster can create the code needed to add a Webster's Dictionary search box to his website. Once the code is created, it is simply a matter of copying and pasting the code to his website to offer visitors the ease of an online dictionary lookup.
Quick Search
It is as easy as typing a word into a search box, clicking English or non-English, and hitting enter to look up the meaning in English or one of 90 modern or 10 ancestral languages. You can do a quick search from any webpage on the website.
Browse
You can also browse Webster’s Online Dictionary by the following:
- In English, by letter
- Language
- Inventions
- Trade names
- Product names
Word of the...
If you enjoy learning new words, the Webster’s Online Dictionary features a new word for each day, hour, and minute, and also an interest quote of the day.
A Word On Slang
While others argue over whether a word is a real word or just a slang expression, the people at Webster’s have opted to include slang as well as official words in its listings.
Definitions
Webster’s Dictionary offers more than just definitions. In many cases you will also find such information as:
- Specialty definitions
- Abbreviations and acronyms
- Synonym within or without context
- Modern usage
- Crossword usage
- Commercial usage
- Photographs and/or slideshows
- Soundbites
- Uses in literature
- Familiar quotes that use the word
- Usage frequency statistics
- How the word is used in spoken language
- Proper names derived from the word
- Internet keyword frequency
- Translations into other languages
- Biblical word use
- Derivations and common misspellings
- Anagrams
- Modern art
- Trade name use
In Conclusion
Webster’s provides more than any standard dictionary. It even goes beyond what you would find in an encyclopedia. This is one website that easily earns the right to be added to your favorites list and to be visited for all your terminology needs.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 2,442 times. This page was last modified 18:00, 26 August 2007.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.

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