The Google glossary function, which has been available in beta for a few months now, is now officially available (via beSpacific).

It is better described as a definition tool (jurabilis).

It only works in English so far. You enter ‘define:’ in an ordinary Google search. Thus the following search:

define: barrister

produces the following results:

Definitions of barrister on the Web (only the Australian and BBC definitions are any good!):

bq. a British lawyer who speaks in the higher courts of law
www.cogsci.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/webwn

bq. A lawyer who conducts public trials in an English superior court. See solicitor.
august1.com/pubs/dict/b.htm

bq. lawyer
www.webtrail.com/sopafug/gendictionary.html

bq. in England, one of two classes of legal practitioners; an English trial lawyer
www.lombardiperry.com/glossary.htm

bq. One admitted to plead at the bar; one who has been “called to the bar.” The bar is the rail which divides the counsel from the audience, or the place thus enclosed. Tantamount to the rood-screen of a church, which separates the chancel from the rest of the building. Both these are relics of the ancient notion that the laity are an inferior order to the privileged class.
www.bootlegbooks.com/Reference/PhraseAndFable/data/99.html

bq. A member of the bar who has exclusive rights in some Courts to plead cases.
www.fire.org.uk/legterms.htm

bq. A lawyer who specialises in court appearances and providing written opinions. Usually not able to act for clients directly and is engaged through a solicitor. In some courts they are required to wear wigs and gowns. •Disability
elo.legalaid.qld.gov.au/asp/glossary/glossary.asp

bq. Lawyer, in England.
www.city-net.com/~markd/dictionary/dictionary_b.htm

bq. One admitted to plead at the bar; one who has been “called to the bar.” The bar is the rail which divides the counsel from the audience, or the place thus enclosed. Tantamount to the rood-screen of a church, which separates the chancel from the rest of the building. Both these are relics of the ancient notion that the laity are an inferior order to the privileged class.
ppcl.chungnam.ac.kr/my/references/phrase/data/99.html

bq. Barristers are instructed by solicitors. They specialise in a particular field of law and can present a case in any court (compare a solicitor whose rights to speak in court are limited).
www2.thny.bbc.co.uk/watchdog/legalglossary/b.shtml

bq. a courtroom lawyer; a litigator
www.hpo.bc.ca/PublicationsForms/MMR/Glossary.html

I looked at the sources of the two good definitions. The BBC glossary is very brief, but the Australian one is interesting – there is not only a glossary with definitions, but a column to the right with links to what is called ‘Infoscreen’, short texts putting the terms in a wider context.

The beta glossary had or has its own link, but that produces inferior and fewer results for ‘barrister’.