Ask.com buys dictionary sites

And gets 15 million new users

6 July 2008 13:41 GMT / By Katie Scott

Ask.com has now bought the reference websites, dictionary.com and thesaurus.com.

The web search company, which is part of IAC or InterActiveCorp, has closed an all-cash deal to acquire Lexico Publishing Group LLC, which owns both of the sites.

California-based Lexico was founded in 1995, and since then founded dictionary.com, then thesaurus.com before beginning reference.com in 2002.

The company is also known for its online reverse dictionary, which is designed for people who know what they mean, but can't remember the right word.

Ask.com currently has 130 million users but believes that this deal which boost ots figures by around 11%.

According to Reuters, this would make Ask.com the ninth-largest web property in the world.

Neither company have revealed how much money has changed hands.