search-engine
/ˈsɜːtʃ ˌɛn.dʒɪn/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A search engine is a website or app that helps you find information on the internet. You type words into it, and it shows you results from web pages, images, videos, and more.
- Google is a search engine.
- I found the answer with a search engine.
- Use a search engine to compare prices.
Adinary Nuance
A search engine is the tool you use to find things online. A browser is the software you use to open websites, like Chrome or Safari. A website is the actual place you visit, while the search engine helps you find it. For example, you search in Google, then open a website from the results.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- công cụ tìm kiếm
- Spanish
- motor de búsqueda
- Chinese
- 搜索引擎
- Japanese
- 検索エンジン
- Korean
- 검색 엔진
Etymology
Search engine is a modern compound from English. It became common with the growth of the internet in the 1990s, when tools were built to search web pages automatically.
Common phrases
search engine resultssearch engine optimizationsearch engine rankingsearch engine query
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is a search engine the same as a browser?
- No. A browser opens websites. A search engine helps you find websites.
- What are examples of search engines?
- Google, Bing, Yahoo, and DuckDuckGo are common search engines.
- Is search engine used in business writing?
- Yes. It is common in business, marketing, and technology writing.