Getting started with Grove Music Online

Advanced search

Use this facility to search the entire text of the dictionary for every mention of a subject. Click the Advanced Search icon from any page to go to the Advanced Search page. From here you can search the entire text of the dictionary for any term(s).



Enter one or more terms in the box (use double quotation marks for a phrase) and click on Search. A list of articles matching your criteria will be displayed. Click on an article in the list to view it in full.

The results of your search will depend on the search mode:


Concept Mode looks for words that are synonyms or related in form

A search on 'state' will also match 'province', 'country' and 'land'
A search on 'mouse' will also match 'mice'


Pattern Mode looks for words similar in spelling to those entered. This is useful when searching for words with alternative spellings or if you are uncertain of a spelling:

searching 'Orpheus' will match 'Orfeo'


Boolean Mode - searches only for exact matches for a word or a phrase. Use Boolean operators (AND, ADJ, OR, NOT) to refine your search.

'hypermetre AND polyrhythm AND tempo'
'interlude OR intermezzo'
'keyed bugle ADJ 2' (two adjacent terms)
'cornet NOT cornett'
'York NOT New' would find articles on York, but not New York.