OmniDictionary is a Mac OS X client for network dictionary servers. It's pretty straightforward - type a word into the entry field, hit return, and the definition is displayed. If the dictionary server supports multiple dictionaries, you can select your desired dictionary from the dictionary popup to limit queries to that specific dictionary, or you can query all the dictionaries.

Since OmniDictionary is simply a client for dictionary servers on the web, you have to be connected to the Internet (or have access to a local dictionary server) in order to be able to perform lookups. Check www.dict.org for more information on these dictionary servers.

Bug reports and feature requests should be sent to omnidictionary@omnigroup.com.

1. Download

In the "Download Now" section of the sidebar on the right, click the version you want to download.

2. Mount

Wait until the download is complete. If your web browser and system are properly configured, Disk Copy or Finder will open and mount the downloaded disk image. If this does not happen, locate in Finder the .dmg file that you downloaded and double-click it to open the file. (Double-check to be sure that you've quit all running copies of OmniDictionary before you continue any further...)

3. Install

When the disk image mounts, a new Finder window will open that contains the icon for your new OmniDictionary application. Simply drag this icon to your Applications folder (or wherever you would like to keep it) to install. This copies the application from the virtual disk image onto your hard disk so the application is there for you to use whenever you like.

4. Eject

Once OmniDictionary is installed you can safely 'eject' the virtual disk that it came on and also dispose of the .dmg file that you downloaded if you choose. Double-click the OmniDictionary icon in the location you installed it in order to begin using the application. You may wish to drag the icon to the Dock for easy access.

OmniDictionary takes advantage of Mac OS X's built-in services menu, so you can look up words from within any of your other Mac OS X applications — just highlight the word you don't know and hit ⌘=. OmniDictionary will automatically launch and look up the word. Bang! We kicked it up a notch.

(Unless, of course, the application you're working in has the ⌘= keyboard shortcut assigned to another command. If that's the case, you'll need to use the Services menu entry to use OmniDictionary.)

Note: Mac OS X 10.x only registers Services from applications installed in /Applications, /Developer/Applications, or subfolders thereof, so if you want to use the Service provided by OmniDictionary you'll need to install it in one of those locations. Services can be provided by applications installed in /Network/Applications if the NSServicesFromNetworkApplications default (in NSGlobalDomain) is set to YES; one way to set this is from the command-line:

defaults write NSGlobalDomain NSServicesFromNetworkApplications YES