My favourite online dictionary is, without a doubt, Wordnik.
Do you think we need a social dictionary like Wordnik for medicine?

Here’s the thing. I’ve always said that the reason I’m not retaining new words is that I don’t really understand how they’re used: Wordnik remedies this problem by providing a plethora of contextual clues. Here’s a rundown of my favourite features using the examples of “fibromyalgia” and “h1n1”:

Examples. This section pulls the oddest sentences (not intentionally, I’m sure, but the …

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This is a story about handwashing.
Ever since word got out that the hotel in which I’m currently residing may potentially contain an H1N1 case (100% not confirmed – imagine the PR nightmare), the handwashing has been religious. A side effect is that I’ve found myself paying more attention to public washroom facilities like soap dispensers and hand dryers. Of the latter, the behemoth on the left caught my eye…

…along with its accompanying instruction plate:

Insert your hands and Airblade will start …

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