Dictionary.com Gets an Update

Dictionary.com is an old favorite of mine for quick reference while surfing the web. I often use it to decode exactly what the hell Tycho from Penny Arcade is talking about: I’m convinced he blogs with a thesaurus next to his iMac. The site was always very useful, if a bit slow, but it had become very dated looking and some would argue downright ugly over the past few years. Therefore, I was pleasantly surprised today when I punched in the URL and found a nicely redesigned, clean interface. It still offers users the ability to search using dictionary or thesaurus modes, but now there is an intriguing encyclopedia feature as well. For power users they are rolling out new premium subscriptions for $19.99/month that will allow visitors to view the site ad-free and with enhancements such as color illustrations and word games. One negative note: the audio pronunciations that were once part of the free site are now only available with a subscription.