Using the Google Search Box for More than Just Searching (Part II of II)

Here’s a second installment of our favorite tricks using Google’s search box. If you missed Part I, you can view it here.

Define a word – Put that Oxford English Dictionary away. Look up definitions using Google by entering “define:word” in the search box (replace ‘word’ with the term you wish to define, and don’t use quotes).

Track a package – Simply enter a tracking number into the search box. This works with UPS, FedEx, DHL, and most other large shippers.

Get the weather – Simply type “weather:nameofcity” and Google will return the forecast for the location in the search results. If you’re looking for your local weather, just type “weather,” and Google will determine your location based on your IP address.

Convert measurements – Can’t recall how many gallons there are in a hogshead? Google has the answer. Also works with more conventional unit conversions, such as cups to ounces.

Search a website – Google isn’t just for searching the Web at large. You can use Google’s search engine to dig into a specific URL. It’s very handy for searching sites with large archives, such as news outlets. To do so, enter the keyword you wish to find, then “site:exampleurl.com” (without quotes), substituting the domain you wish to search for exampleurl.com. In this example, we’re searching the New York Times for mentions of Mario Batali’s Babbo restaurant.