Dictionary.Com An IPod Touch and IPhone Reference Application

The Dictionary.com reference application, created by the well-known dictionary/reference website Dictionary.com (or dictionary.reference.com), is a useful tool for iPod Touch and iPhone owners who like to look up the definitions of words quickly and easily without the need to be connected to a network. The application is available as a free download in the iTunes Store and requires approximately 36 MB of free memory. The current version (1.0.1) has been tested for iPhone OS 3.0. The June 15, 2009 update also includes bug fixes that make the application run smoother. Currently, there are over 275,000 definitions and over 80,000 synonyms available for offline access.

The application has four tabs: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Recent, and Word of the Day.

The Dictionary tab allows users to look up any word they wish. Simply enter your search inquiry into the bar at the top and press Search. Definitions are given exactly as they would be given if searched for on the website. There is even a pronunciation button that works if you are connected to the Internet.

The Thesaurus tab gives thesaurus entries exactly as they would appear in the thesaurus section of the website. If you looked up a word in the Dictionary tab, you can press the Thesaurus tab to get the thesaurus entry for the same word without having to type in the word again. This works very much the same way as it does on the site. Thesaurus entries are based on the third edition of Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus.

The Recent tab collects and saves your recent activity. Let's say you looked up the definition of "metaphor". The recent tab will list the word "metaphor" as well as include a blue arrow next to the word. Clicking the blue arrow will take you to the dictionary entry for the word. Let's say you also looked up the thesaurus entry for "metaphor". In addition to the blue arrow, there would also be a yellow arrow. Clicking the yellow arrow will take you to the thesaurus entry. Similarly, if you only looked up the thesaurus entry for "metaphor", then there would only be a yellow arrow. The Recent tab also saves when you looked up the Word of the Day. The arrow next to this entry will take you to the Word of the Day. Accessing the Word of the Day requires being connected to the Internet.

The Word of the Day tab can be used if you are connected to the Internet. This tab will send you to Dictionary.com's Word of the Day entry, which includes the day's word as well as its dictionary entry.

Review

Pros
-Loads relatively quickly
-Saves recent searches for quick access to words that may still be unfamiliar to you
-There are no ads to worry about (at least not yet)

Cons
-If you exit the application and return later, the word you previously looked up will not be there. Whenever you open the application, it goes straight to the Dictionary tab's home page. However, the Recent tab sort of makes up for this inconvenience.

In conclusion, the Dictionary.com reference application is extremely handy. Whether you're a casual dictionary user or need a portable dictionary for work or study, this application is perfect for you. Considering the amount of information stored in this application, its file size of roughly 36 MB is reasonable. Plus, it's free, so even if you're unsure about how you would like it, you can download the application free of charge and try it out for yourself.