SPRINGFIELD, MA -- Merriam-Webster has added about 100 new words to its Collegiate Dictionary, which should help those uncertain whether they should accept an invitation to join a flash mob.
Many of the new entries are intended to keep up with the Internet age.
Flash mob, for instance, refers to a group of people summoned by e-mail or text message to a location at a specific time to perform some sort of action, then disperse.
And it turns out that a sock puppet can be a little more sinister and tech-oriented than the cheap, improvised toy you pull out of the drawer. It's also a false online identity used for deceptive purposes.
The new terms keep up with other societal trends, like environmental awareness, food and music.
Carbon footprint is the negative impact a person has on the environment through carbon emissions.
A locavore is someone who eats food grown locally whenever possible.
And Reggaeton is music that combines rap with Caribbean rhythms.
On the web:
Merriam-Webster
