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NAME

       look - find lines in a sorted list

SYNOPSIS

       look [ -dfnixtc ] [ string ] [ file ]

DESCRIPTION

       Look  consults  a  sorted  file  and  prints  all lines that begin with
       string.  It uses binary search.

       The following options are recognized.  Options dfnt affect  comparisons
       as in sort(1).

       -i     Interactive.   There  is  no string argument; instead look takes
              lines from the standard input as strings to be looked up.

       -x     Exact.  Print only lines of the file whose  key  matches  string
              exactly.

       -d     ‘Directory’   order:  only  letters,  digits,  tabs  and  blanks
              participate in comparisons.

       -f     Fold.  Upper case letters compare equal to lower case.

       -n     Numeric comparison with initial string of digits, optional minus
              sign, and optional decimal point.

       -t[c]  Character  c  terminates  the sort key in the file.  By default,
              tab terminates the  key.   If  c  is  missing  the  entire  line
              comprises the key.

       If no file is specified, /lib/words is assumed, with collating sequence
       df.

FILES

       /lib/words

SOURCE

       /src/cmd/look.c

SEE ALSO

       sort(1), grep(1)

DIAGNOSTICS

       The exit status is ‘‘not  found’’  if  no  match  is  found,  and  ‘‘no
       dictionary’’ if file or the default dictionary cannot be opened.

                                                                       LOOK(1)