Updated January 7, 2023
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Goodbye, Merriam Webster?
Google often like to sneak new features on us unannounced. Sometimes they appear for a few days and then disappear again, like the removal of any results for some search queries. But others appear and stay. One of the new features that seem to be sticking around is definitions in the Google Chrome search bar.
Can you Define That For Me?
The feature, shown in the screenshot below has been extended from its original form. So now if you type a word, or term, into the URL/ Search bar at the top of your Chrome browser followed by the word “definition” Chrome will display a short definition of that term.
Originally the feature only showed itself when certain, more ‘complicated’ words were typed in. However, now it will work for a much larger number of words.
Easy as A, B, C
Integrating these simple features like this seems to be one of Google’s next focuses. Things like the definition of a word, the time of day or the temperature are searches that provide a fixed answer. You could go to ten websites to check the weather in Sunnyvale, but you’re only going to get one answer. So why does Google need to provide you with a list of ten websites to check, when they can source the answer themselves and present it to you? From a practical point of view, this is true. But the fear many users have is twofold; 1. What if Google’s information is wrong. 2. What if this “Google knows the answer” approach spreads to more than just the date and time? Would this give Google too much power and influence?
Chrome Search Bar
Only time will tell how far Google take this experiment. But for now, the addition of definitions in the Google Chrome search bar is a useful one. Especially for someone who spends so much time writing!
Photo credit – Top: Pixnio
