To search a dictionary:

• In the dictionary window, show the toolbar (if it isn’t showing already) and use the Search field. Type a term to search for in the Search field, and press Return to initiate the search.

The popup menu at the left end of the Search field (the icon looks like a magnifying glass) determines what categories of entity to search in, as well as what parts of each entity’s info to search in. (For example, you might find it useful to disable searching in a Description, since this can lead to false positives.) The popup menu also remembers recent searches.

You are doing a literal search. If the text you type is found anywhere within the material being searched, you have a hit. For example, if your search includes entity names, searching on “lect” will find a class that has an attribute called “selection”.

Search results are displayed in place of the browser at the top of the dictionary window. Results are grouped alphabetically into relevance rankings. (Above is shown the result of searching for “desktop” in the Finder’s dictionary.) Click a listing to display it in the info pane. Thus, searching is another way to navigate the dictionary.

[You might wish to see a list of the types of entity you can find here, and the meanings of the icons.]

To remove search results and restore the browser at the top of the dictionary window:

• Click the X icon at the right end of the Search field (or click in the Search field and press the Esc key).

Another way to search the dictionary is through the Look Up Definition feature.