The Collins Online English Dictionary has added a few new terms to their database, including such popular words as “amazeballs,” “frenemy,” and “bridezilla.” According to Digital Spy , more than 80 additions have been made to the online dictionary, which is sure to bring endless joy to slang-happy Scrabble players across the world. Assuming, of course, that you and your friends use the Collins Online English Dictionary as a reference tool.
In addition to the aforementioned terms, a few interesting phrases have been added to the dictionary. “Mummy porn” — that’s “mommy porn” if you’re in the States — also made the cut, thanks to the unbridled popularity of E.L. James’ Fifty Shades of Grey . The phrases “data cap,” “on the same page,” and “throw someone under the bus” have been legitimized by the online dictionary, as well.
After sifting through thousands of entries, the publisher decided on a total of 86 words. Alex Brown, who heads up the digital division at Collins, was reportedly blown away by the number of suggestions they received.
“We were optimistic about just how keen people would be to take part, but have been blown away by the volume and variety of submissions, and the way that this opportunity to contribute and help document the English language has captured the public imagination,” Brown explained to The Press Association .
Now that these words have been added to the online version, they are now in consideration for the print edition of the Collins Dictionary. Only then will these words and phrases be official in the eyes of the masses.
A complete list of the additions can be found below.
Amazeballs – an expression of enthusiastic approval Bake in – to include (a feature) as an integral part of a computer’s operating system Banjolele – a four-stringed musical instrument with a neck like a ukulele and a body like a banjo Bashtag – a hashtag that is used for critical and abusive comments BBM – a message sent or received using BlackBerry Messenger Bing – a heap or pile, esp of spoil from a mine Bioarchaeology – the branch of archaeology that deals with the remains of living things Blootered – intoxicated; drunk Bridezilla – a woman whose behaviour in planning the details of her wedding is regarded as intolerable Bunbury – to create a fictitious scenario that provides an excuse for avoiding unwanted engagements Throw someone under the bus – to expose someone to an unpleasant fate, esp in order to save oneself Captcha – a test in which the user of a website is asked to decipher a distorted image, used to protect the website against automated attacks Chef de mission – the person in charge of a sporting team at a large international event; the head of a diplomatic body Claustrophilia – abnormal pleasure derived from being in a confined space Confirmee – a person who has confirmed that he or she will attend a specified event Crowdfunding – the funding of a project by a large number of supporters who each contribute a small amount Cyberbully – someone who uses electronic communication to hurt, persecute or intimidate people Cyberstalking – the practice of using electronic communications to harass someone persistently Daal – a variant spelling of dal Data cap – a limit imposed on the amount of data that can be transferred to an electronic device Denialist – a person who refuses to accept something that is regarded as an established fact Dosa – a savoury Indian pancake Dravida – any of the Dravidian languages. Egghead – an intellectual; highbrow. A person whose profile on a social networking site contains the set graphic provided by the site rather than a personal picture Exoticize – to regard or present as exotic Exposome – a collection of environmental factors, such as stress and diet, to which an individual is exposed and which can have an effect on health Facebook – a popular social networking website FaceTime – an application for a mobile communications device that enables people to speak to each other while simultaneously observing each other on a video display Faff – to dither or fuss Faffy – awkward and time-consuming to do or use Fanboy – an ardent or obsessive admirer, esp a young man Fandabidozi – an expression of admiration or enthusiasm popularized by The Krankies Floordrobe – a pile of clothes left on the floor of a room Frape – tightly bound Frenemy – a supposed friend who behaves in a treacherous manner Fujita scale – a scale for expressing the intensity of a tornado Gazang – (of the seller of a house) to inconvenience (a potential buyer) by withdrawing from an agreement to sell shortly before the purchase is completed Geekism – a preoccupation with subjects that are generally considered as unfashionable or boring Generation Z – members of the generation of people born since the mid-1990s who are seen as confident users of new technology Hangry – irritable as a result of feeling hungry Helicopter parent – a parent who is excessively involved in the life of his or her child Hyperconnectivity – the use of multiple systems and devices to remain constantly connected to social networks and streams of information IM – the use of multiple systems and devices to remain constantly connected to social networks and streams of information Impactful – having a powerful effect or making a strong impression Jog on – go away Laymanize or laymanise – to simplify (technical information) into a form that can be understood by ordinary people Leavener – any substance that produces fermentation in dough or batter, such as yeast, and causes it to rise Liveblog – to report (an event) in one’s blog as it happens Livestream – to broadcast (an event) on the internet as it happens LOCOG – London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Lollage – the practice of using the text messaging abbreviation LOL Lolz – a variant spelling of lulz (laughs at someone else’s or one’s own expense) Lush – luxurious, elaborate, or opulent Mac – Macintosh personal computer Be made up – to be very happy about something Marra – Northern English dialect form of mate Mummy porn – a genre of erotic fiction designed to appeal to women New money – money and wealth that has not been inherited Oojamaflip – a thing whose name is temporarily forgotten Osteoarchaeology – the branch of archaeology that deals with the study of bones found at archaeological sites Paan – the leaf of the betel tree On the same page – working in harmony Palaeoarchaeology – the branch of archaeology concerned with the earliest fossil remains PCS – Public and Commercial Services Union Photobomb – to intrude into the background of a photograph without the subject’s knowledge A full plate – a large and onerous amount of work Podium – to finish in one of the first three places in a sporting competition Pooja – a ritual in honour of the gods, performed either at home or in the mandir (temple) PTC – piece to camera Quare – very; remarkably Rowie – a bread roll made with butter and fat Sambar – a S Asian deer, Cervus unicolor, with three-tined antlers Shabby chic – a style of interior design that uses worn or distressed furnishings to achieve a romantic effect Shin Bet – the internal security service of Israel Sick – good; excellent Slob – a slovenly, unattractive, and lazy person SMS – short message service: a system used for sending text messages to and from mobile phones Spin – the practice of presenting news or information in a way that creates a favourable impression Spinning – the practice of presenting news or information in a way that creates a favourable impression Squadoosh – nothing Super-committee – a committee with members from two or more organizations or political g Superfood – a food that is considered especially nutritious or otherwise beneficial to health Superphone – a telephone with a high-speed processor that can perform many of the functions of a computer Telecon , – short for teleconference Thanx – thank you Bang tidy – of exceptionally good quality Tiger mother – a very strict mother who demands that her children reach a high level of achiev Totes – totally; completely; entirely Touch-ready – ready to work on touch-screen computers and devices Tubing – the activity of riding over water or snow on an inflated tube Tweetup – a meeting at which poeple who communicate with each other via the social networking site Twitter meet face to face Twitterer – a person who posts messages on the Twitter website Twittersphere – same as the Twitterverse UKBA – UK Border Agency Verbal diarrhoea – a tendency to speak at excessive length Vom – to vomit Webapp – an application program that is accessed on the internet Webliography – a list of items published on the internet, esp one indicating sources used in the preparation of a book or academic paper Zhoosh – often foll by up (slang) to make more exciting, lively, or attractive Zing – a short high-pitched buzzing sound, as of a bullet or vibrating string