Dictionary.

I write a lot and so I need a dictionary on hand. Well this one comes with minimal to no advertisements cluttering the interface. It’s straightforward and easy to use. They also have a few unnecessary but fun features like a word of the day (which can be added as a widget on the iPhone) and some word related games like hangman or matching games. If you went on the app even when you don’t have a word you need to look up you could spend a little time playing a mini game or learning something every day because of their fact of their idiom, article, and quote of the day. The “This day in history” section is always something I never new or thought about before so that’s a neat feature. TLDR: It works like you want it to plus extra features. Would recommend.

I remember way back in the days when the App Store was in its infancy. The Merriam-Webster dictionary was one of the first five apps I ever downloaded and I was loyal to it for years! ... I somehow stumbled upon ‘the Free Dictionary.’ I think it took me about two weeks to fully convert into a loyalist to this app from them on! For one thing, all of the definitions I’ve ever come across are extremely thorough and as multi-faceted as necessitated. The ability to search multiple languages is fantastic and I think it’s wonderful that the language of origin is immediately identified in the search. It’s really a boon for the users who get the added benefit of learning links between cultures. I do not use the thesaurus very often* , but when I do, I’m always surprised by the quality of the suggestions as well as the nuances of the queried term. This is a wonderful app. Thinking about it now, I’m realizing I should spend more time playing around with it and meandering through the lexicon. My one complaint is that the words of the day are about as lame as can be - I don’t think I’ve seen one that would present a challenge to a second-grader, but there may be a way to adjust that. Get this app!

However, occasionally I will have to resort to another dictionary to find the word I need. What I like about this site: Definitions from several sources are given: a helpful feature. Often word origins are included. Common foreign words/phrases are included. There are usage notes, usually when I need them! There is a thesaurus. Some proper nouns are included. There is an offline alternative and it is free. There are two text methods of pronunciation. There is an audio pronunciation feature and it is free. Having said that, the first two audio voices - American and British - accessed by the flag icons - frequently and laughably butcher pronunciations. Witness “ampoules,” which the Brit voice pronounces with an extra “l” as “amplool.” There are many more, and more extreme examples, but I’ve forgotten all of them (fortunately or, with my suggestible nature, I might be walking around sounding like an illiterate fool)! The male American voice, accessed by the speaker icon, is the most accurate. Obviously some thought and expertise were involved in his software. But I use the American and Brit pronunciations only if I want a good laugh, or, if I want to see how thoroughly a word might be mispronounced. Maybe you’d like to think about offing the Brit and the flag Yank! Nevertheless, Thank You for publishing this dictionary because, despite its flaws, it is my go-to dictionary, and I use it frequently. Tam