You can search a dictionary within a dictionary window. To do so:

• Show the toolbar (if it isn’t showing already) and use the Search field. The menu and keyboard shortcut is Search > Look Up Definition. Type a term to search for in the Search field, and press Return to initiate the search.

To specify search options:

• Click the magnifying glass icon at the left end of the Search field. You can specify two kinds of option:

  • Word containment. You can specify Equals, Contains, Begins With, or Ends With.

  • Where to look. This is divided into two sections.

    • What part of the info to search in: Names, Descriptions, Synonyms, and/or Apple event codes. For example, if you’re searching for a term by name, you might want to disable Description, as enabling it can lead to false positives.

    • What kinds of term to search in: Commands, Events, Classes, Records, Types, Enumerations.

Search results are displayed in place of the terminology list at the left of the dictionary window. Results are grouped alphabetically into relevance rankings. Click a listing to display it in the info pane. Thus, searching is another way to navigate the dictionary.

To remove search results and restore the terminology list:

• 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 from a script window, through the dictionaries inspector.