Provided by: dict_1.13.1+dfsg-1build1_amd64 bug

NAME

       dict - DICT Protocol Client

SYNOPSIS

       dict word
       dict [options] [word]
       dict [options] dict://host:port/d:word:database
       dict [options] dict://host:port/m:word:database:strategy

DESCRIPTION

       dict  is  a  client  for  the  Dictionary  Server Protocol (DICT), a TCP transaction based
       query/response protocol that provides access to  dictionary  definitions  from  a  set  of
       natural  language  dictionary databases.  Exit status is 0 if operation succeeded, or non-
       zero otherwise.
       See EXIT STATUS section.

OPTIONS

       -h server or --host server
              Specifies the hostname for  the  DICT  server.   Server/port  combinations  can  be
              specified  in  the  configuration  file.   If  no  servers  are  specified  in  the
              configuration file or on the command line, dict will fail.   If  IP  lookup  for  a
              server expands to a list of IP addresses (as dict.org does currently), then each IP
              will be tried in the order listed.

       -p service or --port service
              Specifies the port (e.g., 2628) or  service  (e.g.,  dict)  for  connections.   The
              default  is  2628, as specified in the DICT Protocol RFC.  Server/port combinations
              can be specified in the configuration file.

       -d dbname or --database dbname
              Specifies a specific database to search.  The default is to search all databases (a
              "*"  from the DICT protocol).  Note that a "!" in the DICT protocol means to search
              all of the databases until a match is found, and then stop searching.

       -m or --match
              Instead of printing a definition, perform a match using the specified strategy.

       -s strategy or --strategy strategy
              Specify a matching strategy.  By default, the  server  default  match  strategy  is
              used.   This  is  usually  "exact"  for  definitions,  and  some  form of spelling-
              correction strategy for matches  ("."  from  the  DICT  protocol).   The  available
              strategies  are  dependent  on  the server implementation.  For a list of available
              strategies, see the -S or --strats option.

       -C or --nocorrect
              Usually, if a definition is requested  and  the  word  cannot  be  found,  spelling
              correction is requested from the server, and a list of possible words are provided.
              This option disables the generation of this list.

       -c file or --config file
              Specify  the  configuration  file.   The  default   is   to   try   ~/.dictrc   and
              /etc/dictd/dict.conf,   using   the   first   file  that  exists.   If  a  specific
              configuration file is specified, then the defaults will not be tried.

       -D or --dbs
              Query the server and display a list of available databases.

       -S or --strats
              Query the server and display a list of available search strategies.

       -H or --serverhelp
              Query the server and display the help information that it provides.

       -i dbname or --info dbname
              Request information on the specified database  (usually  the  server  will  provide
              origination, descriptive, or other information about the database or its contents).

       -I or --serverinfo
              Query the server and display information about the server.

       -M or --mime
              Send OPTION MIME command to the server.
              NOTE: Server's capabilities are not checked.

       -f or --formatted
              Enables  formatted  output,  i.e.  output convenient for postprocessing by standard
              UNIX utilities. No, it is not XML ;-) Also error and warning messages like
               " No matches...", " Invalid strategy..." etc. are sent to stderr, not to stdout.
              Format:
               -I, -i, -H and similar:
                  host<TAB>port
                  <SPC><SPC>line1
                  <SPC><SPC>line2
                  ...
               -S:
                  host<TAB>port<TAB>strategy1<TAB>short description1
                  host<TAB>port<TAB>strategy2<TAB>short description2
                  ...
               -D:
                  host<TAB>port<TAB>database1<TAB>database description1
                  host<TAB>port<TAB>database2<TAB>database description2
                  ...
               -m:
                  host<TAB>port<TAB>database1<TAB>match1
                  host<TAB>port<TAB>database2<TAB>match2
                  ...

       -a or --noauth
              Disable authentication (i.e., don't send an AUTH command).

       -u user or --user user
              Specifies the username for authentication.

       -k key or --key key
              Specifies the shared secret for authentication.

       -V or --version
              Display version information.

       -L or --license
              Display copyright and license information.

       -4     Forces dict to use IPv4 addresses only.

       -6     Forces dict to use IPv6 addresses only.

       --help Display help information.

       -v or --verbose
              Be verbose.

       -r or --raw
              Be very verbose: show the raw client/server interaction.

       --pipesize
              Specify the buffer size for pipelineing commands.  The default is 256, which should
              be  sufficient  for  general  tasks  and be below the MTU for most transport media.
              Larger values may provide faster or slower throughput, depending on  MTU.   If  the
              buffer  is  too small, requests will be serialized.  Values less than 0 and greater
              than one million are silently changed to something more reasonable.

       --client text
              Specifies additional text to be sent using the CLIENT command.

       --debug flag
              Set a debugging flag.  Valid flags are:

              verbose
                     The same as -v or --verbose.

              raw    The same as -r or --raw.

              scan   Debug the scanner for the configuration file.

              parse  Debug the parser for the configuration file.

              pipe   Debug TCP pipelining support (see the DICT RFC and RFC1854).

              serial Disable pipelining support.

              time   Perform transaction timing.

CONFIGURATION

       The configuration file currently has a very simple format.   Lines  are  used  to  specify
       servers, for example:
              server dict.org
       or, with options:
              server dict.org { port 8080 }
              server dict.org { user username secret }
              server dict.org { port dict user username secret }
       the  port  and  user  options  may  be specified in any order.  The port option is used to
       specify an optional port (e.g., 2628) or service (e.g., dict) for the  TCP/IP  connection.
       The  user  option  is  used  to  specify  a  username  and  shared  secret  to be used for
       authentication to this particular server.

       Servers are tried in the order listed until a connection is made.

EXIT STATUS

        0  Successful completion

        20 No matches found
        21 Approximate matches found
        22 No databases available
        23 No strategies available

        30 Unexpected response code from server
        31 Server is temporarily unavailable
        32 Server is shutting down
        33 Syntax error, command not recognized
        34 Syntax error, illegal parameters
        35 Command not implemented
        36 Command parameter not implemented
        37 Access denied
        38 Authentication failed
        39 Invalid database
        40 Invalid strategy
        41 Connection to server failed

CREDITS

       dict was written by Rik Faith (faith@cs.unc.edu) and is distributed under the terms of the
       GNU  General  Public  License.   If you need to distribute under other terms, write to the
       author.

       The main libraries used by this programs  (zlib,  regex,  libmaa)  are  distributed  under
       different  terms,  so  you  may  be  able  to use the libraries for applications which are
       incompatible with the GPL -- please see the copyright notices and license information that
       come  with  the  libraries for more information, and consult with your attorney to resolve
       these issues.

BUGS

       If a dict: URL is given on the command line, only the first one is  used.   The  rest  are
       ignored.

       If  a dict: URL contains a specifier for the nth definition or match of a word, it will be
       ignored and all the definitions or matches will be provided.  This violates the  RFC,  and
       will be corrected in a future release.

       If a dict: URL contains a shared secret, it will not be parsed correctly.

       When OPTION MIME command is sent to the server (-M option) , server's capabilities are not
       checked.

FILES

       ~/.dictrc
              User's dict configuration file

       /etc/dictd/dict.conf
              System dict configuration file

SEE ALSO

       dictd(8), dictzip(1), http://www.dict.org, RFC 2229

                                         15 February 1998                                 DICT(1)