Google Fixes Definition URLs, Makes Them Clickable Links

When Google introduced a new format last month for the definitions it sometimes shows at the top of its search results, something was missing. The source URL wasn’t a clickable link. That’s now been fixed. Here’s an example, the definition box that Google shows for a “define speed of light” search: The URL shown under […]

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When Google introduced a new format last month for the definitions it sometimes shows at the top of its search results, something was missing. The source URL wasn’t a clickable link. That’s now been fixed.

Here’s an example, the definition box that Google shows for a “define speed of light” search:

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The URL shown under the definition previously wasn’t clickable. Instead, the only way to click through to the source of the definition was to use the smaller “Source” link at the very bottom of the box.

Reader Martin Panayotov pointed this out to us at the end of December. We checked with Google about it and were told that the URL should be clickable and that this would be fixed. Now it is.

In cases where Google is drawing a definition from multiple sources, rather than from one in particular, no URL is shown, but the sources are cited below the definition box and are clickable links:

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To see definitions like those above, put “define” in front of the word you want defined, such as:

  • define red
  • define matt cuttts
  • define gangnam

Alternatively, using “what is” often works.


Opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.


About the author

Danny Sullivan
Contributor
Danny Sullivan was a journalist and analyst who covered the digital and search marketing space from 1996 through 2017. He was also a cofounder of Third Door Media, which publishes Search Engine Land and MarTech, and produces the SMX: Search Marketing Expo and MarTech events. He retired from journalism and Third Door Media in June 2017. You can learn more about him on his personal site & blog He can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

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