Dictionaries have to be updated with new words
The Oxford Dictionary of English is a dictionary that tries to reflect words currently being used by English speakers. In this programme, Rob and Alice talk about new words which have recently entered the English language.
This week's question:
How many new words were added to the Oxford Dictionary of English this year?
a) 100
b) 2,000
c) 10,000
Listen out for the answer in the programme.
Listen to the programme
New words in English
End of Section
Vocabulary from the programme
- edition
particular version of a book, magazine or newspaper
- software tools
computer programs to help with a task
- a question of
something that is important or central to an issue
- chatrooms
areas on the internet where people can chat, usually by typing messages
- jargon
words that are specific to a particular group of people or topic
- social networking
activity on the internet that links you with other people
- de-friend; un-friend
remove a person from your group of friends on a social network
- micro blogging
typically smaller than a regular blog; involves sharing a short sentence, web link, or image with your online friends
- dictionary attack
trying an enormous number of words in an effort to discover a password
- toxic debt
assets such as mortages or financial products which were once valuable and are now difficult to value or possibly worthless
- quantitative easing
when governments put new money into a country's national money supply to ease pressure on the economy
- vuvuzela
musical instrument with a buzzing sound like bees, famous for being played at the FIFA World Cup in South Africa this year
