Searching the OED
How to use the quick search
The quick search bar can be found on the OED (Oxford English Dictionary) homepage and at the top of every entry page, and finds main dictionary entries, such as alphabet, break, xylophone. It also finds phrases and compounds listed within main entries, such as to look up an alphabet book, and different forms of spellings such as dictionaries.
Wildcard searches
A wildcard is a symbol which stands for any character. The question mark? represents the occurrence of any one single character, and the asterisk * represents the occurrence of any number of characters (or no character at all) . Wildcards are useful if you do not know how to spell a word, or if you want to find several terms beginning with the same root.
How to use the advanced search
An advanced search is a full search of the entire dictionary text which is for readers who have logged in or subscribed to the dictionary. Advanced search can be especially useful for very specific searches. You can use the search area functionality to search by each section of an entry. You can also use filters to narrow your search to match certain criteria.
Browsing by categories
Categories allow you to explore the dictionary through groupings of words in, for instance, a subject or from a particular origin. If you want to find all the Carribbean borrowings in English, or find the first word related to espionage to enter the dictionary, this is the function for you.
Further explore your search by using the options that appear on the right-hand side of the results page.
