Access the Dictionary in iOS to Quickly Look Up Words
Ever since the 5th major release of iOS, an awesome built-in dictionary feature is easily accesible from Safari and most other apps that you’ll be using on an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. The next time you see a word on an iPhone or iPad that you want to define, don’t bother downloading or launching a separate dictionary app, because you can quickly access word definitions directly from iOS:
- Tap and hold on the word to define
- Select “Define” to open that word in the dictionary
- Tap “Done” to exit the dictionary app
Now you’ll know the meaning of that word. This should be incredibly useful for readers, learners, students, educators, or really just about anyone, because let’s face it, some words we just don’t know, or at least don’t know in the context of how it was used.
The instant dictionary concept should be familiar to Mac users, where a very similar feature is in OS X from Lion onward, which also summons a dictionary with a simple three-fingered word tap.
This is a handy little tip found from MacTrast, and you’ll be finding it in all versions of iOS and OS X from here on out.
Double Tap does not work for me in Safari. Tap-Hold 1sec-Release works for me instead.
There is a free app, Dictionary, that exposes a simple interface to search the built-in iOS 5 dictionary database. It’s a tiny app with a simple search interface. Easy to use for those cases where one does not have a word to double-tap. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dictionary/id473493861?mt=8
[...] and ran into a word you just don’t know the meaning of? It happens to all of us, but now that iOS has a built-in dictionary all you need to do is use it to quickly find out the definition and meaning. Do this by tapping and [...]
I do not seem to have this option. Is it because i have another language than english? (have tried both danish and english words, or maybe because it is a 3Gs?
You need iOS 5 or later to access the built-in Dictionary. That’s really the only requirement, it should work in other languages outside of English.