# Can m-w (dictionary) freeze my computer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 6, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-m-w-dictionary-freeze-my-computer/232905 "2004-03-06T23:40:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2004, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-m-w-dictionary-freeze-my-computer/232905/1 "2004-03-06T23:40:29Z")
Twice now, in the last week or two, my computer has locked-up while I was using m-w’s website. Is there some kind of bug thing going on? They do have a pretty busy site, with pop-ups and all that. I never wait for it to fully load before I query. I have an original, 5 y.o. iMac w/OS 9.2 (no wise cracks), and it is getting kind of tired. BTW; is there a better _free_ dictionary site? Thanks, mangeorge BTW; I’m going to look at a new 17" iMac tomorrow. _Now_ you can comment/ 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2004, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-m-w-dictionary-freeze-my-computer/232905/2 "2004-03-06T23:48:41Z")
It’s possible there’s a bug in your browser that manifests itself with that particular HTML page. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-m-w-dictionary-freeze-my-computer/232905/3 "2004-03-07T00:35:51Z")
Anything is “possible.” OTOH, I’ve been using [www.m-w.com](http://www.m-w.com) for years and have never had the site freeze on me. If you’re looking for other options, [www.dictionary.com](http://www.dictionary.com) retrieves definitions from multiple sources. (Both Merriam-Webster and the majority of the [dictionary.com](http://dictionary.com) sources are U.S. based. I don’t know whether there is a free web dictionary that is oriented to British English.) ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-m-w-dictionary-freeze-my-computer/232905/4 "2004-03-07T00:47:18Z")
You could also try one of the dictionaries at [www.libraryspot.com](http://www.libraryspot.com). Or, if you really like M-W, maybe you could use their toolbar instead of the web page? ---
**Author:** ![Apex\_Rogers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@Apex\_Rogers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Apex_Rogers)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-m-w-dictionary-freeze-my-computer/232905/5 "2004-03-07T01:01:42Z")
> [@mangeorge](#): > > Twice now, in the last week or two, my computer has locked-up while I was using m-w’s website. Is there some kind of bug thing going on? They do have a pretty busy site, with pop-ups and all that. I never wait for it to fully load before I query. > I have an original, 5 y.o. iMac w/OS 9.2 (no wise cracks), and it is getting kind of tired. > BTW; is there a better _free_ dictionary site? > Thanks, > mangeorge > BTW; I’m going to look at a new 17" iMac tomorrow. _Now_ you can comment/ 😉 I was using a sun computer in a computer lab at my university and I had repeated freezes associated with visiting the m-w dictionary page. The browser was some version of Netscape. ---
**Author:** ![Grave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/71c47a/32.png) [@Grave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grave)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2004, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-m-w-dictionary-freeze-my-computer/232905/6 "2004-03-07T01:04:31Z")
Any site or program has the potential to cause problems. Unfortunately, more and more websites view Macs as more of an enthusist platform, and don’t bother to test their applications on or against it. Depending on which browser you are using, you might be able to selectively disable Java or Javascript and see if the problem disappears.