search engine

[ surch en-juhn ]

noun

, Digital Technology.

1. a computer program that searches documents, especially on the World Wide Web, for a specified word or words and provides a list of documents in which they are found.

search engine

noun

1. computing a service provided on the internet enabling users to search for items of interest

search engine

1. Web sites or software that search the Internet for documents that contain a key word, phrase, or subject that is specified by the user to the search engine. Each engine has its own method of searching for information.

Word History and Origins

Origin of search engine¹

First recorded in 1990–95

Example Sentences

Type “Jon Stewart defends” into any search engine.

From Salon

Foundem had been hit by a Google search penalty, prompted by one of the search engine’s automatic spam filters.

From BBC

At a bar on the outskirts of Canterbury students here know the limits, and say they only use AI as an aid, like they might a search engine.

From BBC

Readers, like Trump’s interviewer on Tuesday, will try and fail to find anything about a search engine in that answer.

From Salon

The US government says it is considering whether to ask a judge to break up search engine giant Google, in a move that could reshape how technology giants do business.

From BBC