Installing Dictionaries

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Installation on Macintosh 10.5

With Mac OS 10.5 or newer, you may use Apple's own Dictionary program.

  1. Download the dictionary file(s):
  2. Unzip and unpack the downloaded file by doubleclicking. The result is a file that looks like a lego block:
    Dictionary files and their icons
  3. Open the program Finder and press shift-cmd-G.
  4. Write or paste ~/Library in the window, and go to that folder.
  5. In the Library folder there should be a folder Dictionaries. If there is no such folder you may press shift-cmd-N and make it, and give it the name Dictionaries.
  6. Then, move the lego block file to the folder Dictionaries.

You're done!

Using the dictionary

In order to use the dictionary, you just point the cursor at the word you want to translate, and press the relevant key combination. The default key combination is ctrl-command-D (⌃⌘D). If you would like something else, you can change the key combination in System settings - Keyboard and mouse - Keyboard shortcuts > Search with Dictionary.
Dictionary pop-up window when using lookup by pointing

You can also look up words using the application Dictionary, found in your Applications folder (the application has a different name in some languages - the icon looks like a printed dictionary).
Dictionary application icon

There are already several dictionaries installed, English and Japanese dictionaries come wth the system. In the Preferences pane you can turn on and off the dictionaries you want, or change the search order of the dictionaries. Just drag the dictionaries into the preferred order.
The preference pane of the Dictionary application