The Oxford English Dictionary recently released a new edition, with an estimated 2,000 new words. Many of the additions reflect the influence of new technologies and social networking sites. Among the new words are:
• Tweetup: A combination of “tweet” and “meet up,” the term refers to meetings arranged via Twitter.
• De-friend: The term for removing a friend from a Facebook friend list.
• Chillax: A combination of the terms “chill” and “relax,” both of which are intended to calm the listener.
• Vuvuzela: The horn instrument that charmed—and irritated—the world during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
• Bromance: A term that describes a close friendship between two friends, derived from “brother” and “romance.”
• Buzzkill: A person who does or says something to deflate spirits and reduce fun.
• Frenemy: A combination of “friend” and “enemy,” the “frenemy” is a term that implies friendship between rivals or people who dislike one another.
• Interweb: The Internet.
• Wardrobe Malfunction: The official term for an article of clothing slipping to reveal an inappropriate body part. Most commonly used in reference to the Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake Superbowl incident of 2004.
Among the other words recently added to the dictionary are cheeseball, netbook, and paywall.
This article appears in Sep 9-16, 2010.