Merriam-Webster is using voice search within its iPhone dictionary application that lets users look up any word by simply speaking into their device.

Users can search for words without having to spell them out. The application is available for free download in Apple?s App Store.

?We want to be where our users are,? said Miles Kronby, chief product officer of digital at Merriam-Webster, New York. ?Merriam-Webster has been in the dictionary business for over 150 years and we are continuously evolving. 

?The mobile platform is the fastest-growing part of our business and we want to bring our content to wherever our audience happens to be,? he said.

Word of the day
The Merriam-Webster application offers more than 225,000 definitions and 300,000 synonyms and antonyms.

Additionally, there is a word of the day feature, example of sentences and audio pronunciations.

Users can use the voice search functionality

Users can look up any word

Users can learn the pronunciation of a word

?Our experience is that a lot of people hear a word but do not know how to spell it,? Mr. Kronby said. ?Voice search addresses that need. 

?We are spreading the word with promotions on our site, via social media, and through our email list,? he said.

Mobile navigation
The application also features a reader view that lets viewers hide navigation buttons to see text in full screen.

In addition, users can keep track of all the words they have looked up before.

The company is looking to extend the application to other platforms.

?Yes we are,? Mr. Kronby said. ?Apps for Android and other platforms will be coming soon.

?Mobile is a platform that we are really excited about,? he said. ?The obvious first step was to provide our dictionary on mobile devices but we are looking at other ways to provide our content in a mobile platform.?

Final Take
Rimma Kats is editorial assistant on Mobile Marketer, New York