search engine
/ˈsɜːrtʃ ˌɛndʒɪn/
Meaning
A search engine is a software program or website that helps users find information on the internet by looking up specific keywords. Popular examples include Google, Bing, and Yahoo. It is a standard technical term used in both casual and professional contexts.
Examples
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Which search engine do you prefer using for research papers?
Which search engine do you prefer using for research papers.
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Our website's traffic increased after we optimized it for search engines.
Our website's traffic increased after we optimized it for search engines.
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You can type the error code into any search engine to find a solution.
You can type the error code into any search engine to find a solution.
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A good search engine should deliver accurate results in milliseconds.
A good search engine should deliver accurate results in milliseconds.
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She works as a developer, helping to improve the search engine's algorithm.
She works as a developer, helping to improve the search engine's algorithm.
Common Mistakes
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✗ I searched it on the search machine.
✓ I searched for it on a search engine.
The correct term is 'search engine.' 'Search machine' is a literal translation from other languages like German (Suchmaschine) or Dutch (zoekmachine).
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✗ Google is the most popular find engine.
✓ Google is the most popular search engine.
The standard collocation is always 'search engine,' never 'find engine.'
Related Expressions
Practice
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If you don't know the answer, just type the question into a ___.
💡 A website like Google or Bing that looks up information.
Show answer
search engine
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To get more visitors, we need to improve our ranking on the major ___.
💡 Plural form.
Show answer
search engines