‘Twerk’, ‘Selfie, ‘Squee’, Others Get Added To Oxford Dictionary

We have heard more about “twerking” in the last couple of days than in the last couple of years. Now you can actually find it in the Oxford Dictionary, the online version.

Don’t panic, Oxford Dictionaries Online (ODO) are different from the one you are thinking about, the best known Oxford English Dictionary (OED).

Whew! The ODO takes pride in keeping up-to-date with all the latest lingo used by hip youngsters. The traditional OED has never removed a word, even if it is not in use any longer.

With the use of electronic devices, there are several new terms added to the ODO that you might be familiar with, but do you know what they mean?

The handy reference book is adding the hippest words in use by millions, not only when it comes to technology, but also to commonly used social terms.

Ever since Sunday night’s MTV VMAs all people seem to be talking about is Miley Cyrus’ “twerking”, in case you didn’t know what it means Oxford Online Dictionary defines it as a verb: dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.

Do you get all the hype now?

Other popular terms added are “selfie”, a noun which means “a photograph that one has taken of oneself, typically one taken with a smartphone or webcam and uploaded to a social media website.”

A “phablet” is “a smartphone having a screen which is intermediate in size between that of a typical smartphone and a tablet computer.”

“Squee” is defined as a term used to express great delight or excitement. This is a popular one on Twitter, when talking about favorite celebrities.

There are many new additions which can make your life easier, if you’re not young enough to be hip and you want to understand what your kids are talking about.

The Oxford Dictionary is definitely keeping up with the times adding “twerk” as part of their latest terms. Three days after the VMAs, we’re still talking about it.