"Fanboy" is just one of new words unveiled by Merriam-Webster for the new edition of the Collegiate Dictionary. According to YahooNews, Merriam-Webster Inc. has added over 100 new words, with strong focus for new words in the areas of culinary arts and new technology. Here is a list of just a few of the new entries:
Air quotes (1989): gesture made by raising and flexing the index and middle fingers of both hands, used to call attention to a spoken word or expression.
Dark energy (1998): hypothetical form of energy that produces a force that opposes gravity and is thought to cause the accelerating expansion of the universe.
Dirty bomb (1956): bomb designed to release radioactive material.
Dwarf planet (1993): celestial body that orbits the sun and has a spherical shape, but is too small to disturb other objects from its orbit.
Edamame (1951): immature green soybeans, usually in the pod.
Fanboy (1919): boy who is an enthusiastic devotee, such as of comics or movies.
Infinity pool (1992): outdoor swimming pool with an edge over which water flows into a trough, but seems to flow into the horizon.
Jukebox musical (1993): musical that features popular songs from the past.
Kiteboarding (1996): the sport of riding on a small surfboard propelled across water by a large kite, to which the rider is harnessed.
Malware (1990): software designed to interfere with a computer's normal functioning.
Mental health day (1971): day that an employee takes off from work to relieve stress or renew vitality.
Mondegreen (1954): word or phrase that results from a mishearing of something said or sung. From the mishearing in a Scottish ballad of "laid him on the green" as "Lady Mondegreen."
Netroots (2003): grassroots political activists who communicate via the Internet, especially by blogs.
Norovirus (2002): any of a genus of small round single-stranded RNA viruses; specifically, Norwalk virus.
Pescatarian (1993): vegetarian whose diet includes fish.
Phytonutrient (1994): bioactive, plant-derived compound (as resveratrol) associated with positive health effects.
Pretexting (1992): presenting oneself as someone else to obtain private information.
Prosecco (1881): a dry Italian sparkling wine.
Racino (1995): racetrack at which slot machines are available for gamblers.
Soju (1978): a Korean vodka distilled from rice.
Subprime (1995) 1: having or being an interest rate that is higher than a prime rate and is extended especially to low-income borrowers; 2: extending or obtaining a subprime loan.
Supercross (1983): motorcycle race held in a stadium on a dirt track having hairpin turns and high jumps.
Texas Hold 'em (1995): Poker in which each player is dealt two cards face down and all players share five cards dealt face-up.
Webinar (1998): live, online educational presentation during which participating viewers can submit questions and comments.
Wing nut (circa 1900): Slang: one who advocates extreme measures or changes; radical.
