Finding the meaning of words in one click using Word Web

While word-processor software like Microsoft Word have spell-checking tools, few programs have built-in dictionaries. WordWeb Free is a superb dictionary program that runs in the background, ready to look up words whatever software you’re using. Simply hover your mouse over the relevant word and a definition is only a click away. Version 8 of Word Web adds thousands of new definitions and
has been updated for Windows 10.

Download the free version of the WordWeb software from wordweb.info. During installation, click the ‘Advanced options’ button. The default setting runs the software in the background as soon as you start Windows,which is useful if you always want to keep the dictionary to hand. Choose the alternative ‘not recommended’ option if you’d prefer to run it as and when you need it. Once it’s running, an icon will sit in the notification area  – click this to open the dictionary or right-click it to access its menu of extra options.

 As long as the software is running in the notification area, you can hover your mouse over any word you want to look up, then hold down the Ctrl key and rightclick. Alternatively, highlight the word or double-click it. Next, press Ctrl+Alt+W to see the word in the top bar, with definitions below . Synonyms for the word are listed below these – simply double-click one to see its definition. Click the musical-note icon to hear the word pronounced and use the back and forward buttons to navigate through previous words.

If you’d like to change the key combination from Ctrl+Alt+W, click the Options menu and choose HotKey, or right-click the icon in the notification area and select ‘Change hot key’ . Select which mouse button you want to perform the action and which modifier key(s) you want to use (Shift, Alt or Ctrl ). Next, click in the Keyboard HotKey field and type the letter you want to use in combination with the modifier(s). It will automatically add the modifier keys you selected to create your key combination. Click OK