Lookup tools
We are currently working on an API for the OED. To find out more, test our prototype, and tell us which features you would like, please visit our API site.
Add Oxford English Dictionary to your browser
With this feature, you can highlight a word in any web site, click the ‘Search Oxford English Dictionary’ button on your browser toolbar, and your browser window will display the results of a Quick Search for the selected text.
Please note that you need to have JavaScript enabled to add the Search Oxford English Dictionary button on to your browser.
Internet Explorer
- Place your mouse cursor over the following link: Search Oxford English Dictionary
- Click the right mouse button and select ‘Add to Favorites …’
- Click ‘Yes’ to continue (our code is safe)
- In the ‘Add a Favorite’ dialog, select ‘Favorites bar’ in the ‘Create in‘ menu, then click ‘Add’.
Can’t see it? If you cannot see your Favorites toolbar, go to the Tools » Toolbars menu, then click on ‘Favorites Bar’. If you can see your Favorites toolbar but not the Oxford English Dictionary button, drag the toolbar across your screen to make more of the toolbar visible.
Firefox and Chrome
- Drag this onto your toolbar: Search Oxford English Dictionary
Add Oxford English Dictionary to your search menu
Firefox
Go to www.oed.com. Click on the + icon in the search menu and click ‘Add Oxford English Dictionary’:
Chrome
Right-click in the address bar and select ‘Edit search engines’. In the fields at the bottom, add:
- oed.com
- OED
- http://www.oed.com/search?searchType=dictionary&q=%s
Search by typing ‘OED <your search term>’ into the address bar.
Add Quick Search to your site
Librarians or site administrators who wish to provide a convenient short cut into OED are invited to use this Quick Search box. Copy the HTML below and add it to your own web page, giving readers of that page instant access to OED.
Note: This search box can only be used by a reader who has a subscription. It should therefore only be used in institutional or similar environments.
Copy this HTML:
<div style=”font:normal 13px/1.5 Arial;width:318px;height:98px;background:#f1f5fb;border:1px solid #d8e0f5;margin:0;padding:20px 10px 10px 10px;text-align:left”> <div style=”background:#fff;width:300px;padding:5px;margin:0″> <form enctype=”application/x-www-form-urlencoded” method=”get” action=”http://www.oed.com:80/search” name=”oed_search” id=”oed_search”> <div style=”text-align:left;width:280px;margin:10px auto 10px”> <label for=”text”>Enter word or phrase:</label><input size=”20″ name=”q” type=”text” style=”textfield”></input><br/><input type=”submit” value=”Search”></input> </div></form></div></div>
<div style="font:normal 13px/1.5 Arial;width:318px;height:98px;background:#f1f5fb;border:1px solid #d8e0f5;margin:0;padding:20px 10px 10px 10px;text-align:left"> <div style="background:#fff;width:300px;padding:5px;margin:0″> <form enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded" method="get" action="http://www.oed.com:80/search" name="oed_search" id="oed_search"> <div style="text-align:left;width:280px;margin:10px auto 10px"> <label for="text">Enter word or phrase:</label><input size="20″ name="q" type="text" style="textfield"></input><br/><input type="submit" value="Search"></input> </div></form></div></div>