Lolz, listen up tweeps, here’s a hat tip to my OH, you have to check out this photobombing micro pig, it’s totally ridic! Mwahahaha!
Still with us? Well you should be, for this is just a selection of the latest additions to Oxford Dictionaries Online.
Research from the team shows that these terms have made their way into common usage, hence their inclusion in the quarterly update of new words and meanings.
"These words are all shorthand really, it's social network speak," was the verdict of Plain English Campaign leader Chrissie Maher.
She added: “It’s when this sort of stuff gets into CVs, public leases and official documents that there’s a downside.
“It won’t be finding its way into my courses at the Plain English Campaign.
“Having said that, when my grandchildren send me a text I often barely understand a word and I do have to reach for the dictionary – so this could prove pretty useful to me.”
Other additions to the online tome inspired by contemporary culture include micro pig, hosepipe ban, and e-cigarette.
The world of technology continues to cast major influence over the English language, with innovative strides reflected in new entries including NFC (near field communications), 3D printing, and e-learning.
Social media also continues to shape language evolution: tweeps, video chat, lifecasting, and hat tip are among the latest words to make their dictionary debut, whilst acronyms regularly used online (from lolz to UI and UX) have also been recognised.
Scroll down for a gallery of new words
New entry: Micro pigs are in
Head of Online Dictionaries Glynnis Keir provides the following takeaway: “The rich variety of new words from all manner of sources and levels of formality – popular culture, science, technology, politics, etc. – is striking in this update.
"I hope you enjoy our choices for inclusion: all carefully researched from evidence of the part these words, phrases, and acronyms currently play in our language."
This month our cousins over the pond saw some colourful additions to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, including F-bomb.
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The term "F-bomb" surfaced in newspapers more than 20 years ago but will land Tuesday for the first time in the mainstream Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, along with sexting, flexitarian, obesogenic, energy drink and life coach.
Keep scrolling for the 100 additions that made the 114-year-old tome's annual update, but in the meantime have a flip through the latest from Oxford Dictionaries Online below.
