New Words in Webster's Include Frenemy

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. - Merriam-Webster has added about 100 news 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.

New words in the Merriam-Webster dictionary

Merriam-Webster Inc. has added more than 100 entries to the latest edition of its Collegiate Dictionary. Here are some, along with the year in which Merriam-Webster researchers first found them used in an English-language publication, and their meanings:

Acai (1868): a small dark purple fleshy berrylike fruit of a tall slender palm (Euterpe oleracea) of tropical Central and South America that is often used in beverages.

Carbon footprint (1999): the negative impact that something (as a person or business) has on the environment; specifically: the amount of carbon emitted by something during a given period.

Cardioprotective (1984): serving to protect the heart.

Earmark (15c): a provision in Congressional legislation that allocates a specified amount of money for a specific project, program, or organization.

Fan fiction (1944): stories involving popular fictional characters that are written by fans and often posted on the Internet.

Flash mob (1987): a group of people summoned (as by e-mail or text message) to a designated location at a specified time to perform an indicated action before dispersing.

Frenemy (1977): one who pretends to be a friend but is actually an enemy.

Goji (2003): the dark red mildly tart berry of a thorny chiefly Asian shrub (Lycium barbarum) that is typically dried and used in beverages.

Green-collar (1990): of, relating to, or involving actions for protecting the natural environment.

Haram (1979): forbidden by Islamic law.

Locavore (2005): one who eats foods grown locally whenever possible.

Memory foam (1987): a dense polyurethane foam that becomes more pliable when in contact with heat.

Missalette (1973): a shortened form of a missal published periodically for congregational use.

Naproxen (1971): an analgesic and antipyretic NSAID C14H14O3 often used in the form of its sodium salt.

Neuroprotective (1987): serving to protect neurons from injury or degeneration.

Pharmacogenetics (1960): the study of how genetic differences among individuals cause varied responses to a drug.

Physiatry (1947): physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Reggaeton (2003): popular music of Puerto Rican origin that combines rap with Caribbean rhythms.

Shawarma (1953): a sandwich esp. of sliced lamb or chicken, vegetables, and often tahini wrapped in pita bread.

Sock puppet (1959): a false online identity used for deceptive purposes.

Staycation (2005): a vacation spent at home or nearby.

Vlog (2002): a blog that contains video material.

Waterboarding (2004): an interrogation technique in which water is forced into a detainee's mouth and nose so as to induce the sensation of drowning.

Webisode (1996): an episode esp. of a TV show that may or may not have been telecast but can be viewed at a Web site.

Zip line (1984): a cable suspended above an incline to which a pulley and harness are attached for a rider.

Source: Merriam-Webster Inc.