“Cooling center” was one of the new words added to Dtcionary.com this summer. (Photo: Getty)
Dictionary.com recently unveiled Summer word drop of new words added to the online dictionary. And the new entries include three medical terms, five terms related to climate change and warm weather, and two, say, meat-related terms. The term “hot rodent man” was also added, which has nothing to do with the weather and is not a medical condition that causes whiskers and a tail to grow.
These additions were based on the fact that “Dictionary.com’s lexicographers continued to monitor word usage in the media, on social media, on the Internet and in other sources,” explains Steve Johnson, Curriculum Design Manager of the Dictionary Media Group at IXL Learning. “They pretty much see the trends that are happening in the real world.”
For example, if you haven’t noticed, the last two summers have been pretty hot, including the hottest days on record. In fact, NASA recently detailed this the summer of 2024 as the warmest yet. That is the hottest in terms of temperature and not sexy. This past June, July and August, global temperatures were about 0.2 degrees Fahrenheit, or 0.1 degrees Celsius, higher than any three-month period previously recorded by NASA. And this surpassed the previous record, which, guess what, was set in 2023. “As the weather gets warmer, we see a relationship with what is being discussed,” says Johnson.
Therefore, it should come as no surprise that the Dictionary.com staff found people talking about cooling centers and ambient temperatures, two new additions to their dictionary. Dictionary.com defined a “cooling center”, also called cooling station, as “an air-conditioned or otherwise cooled facility, such as a school, library, or shopping center, that is open to the public during a period of hot weather to provide relief from the heat. ” The dictionary article also gives the example: “The Ministry of Health can assist in arranging transportation to a local cooling center.” In the meantime, “ambient temperature‘ means ‘the temperature of the air at a particular time and in a particular place or condition.’
If you’re wondering why it’s been getting hotter and hotter lately, you’ll see that there is such a thing as climate change, which some people still claim doesn’t really exist. And there is an abundance of scientific evidence that all the pollution humans continue to pump into the environment has contributed to climate change. Therefore, it is not surprising that three terms for carbon emission reduction “gross zero“, “net zero“And”zero carbon‘ have made it into the dictionary. There was another popular term: ‘is called money”, with a revised definition from Dicitonary.com that has nothing to do with weather. Unless you think the hot money goes to political and business leaders who don’t do much about climate change.
Yes, doing nothing about climate change will not stop those in the know from turning a blind eye to what is happening. “Whale eye” By the way, there is a new addition to the dictionary and it means: “the act of showing the whites of the eyes to indicate fear or anxiety.” No amount of dopamine dressing will make legitimate concerns about climate change go away. (“Dopamine connection‘ by the way, was another new dictionary entry that means ‘the practice of improving your mood by wearing clothes, often of bright colors or vibrant patterns, that you enjoy wearing.’)
What else has people concerned? Well, how about the following three brain-related terms newly added to the dictionary:
- chemo brain (noun): “a common side effect of some cancer treatments characterized by cognitive impairment, such as memory and recall problems, confusion, difficulty concentrating, or loss of mental alertness”
- traumatic brain injury (noun):: “damage to the brain from a source outside the body, such as an object that violently strikes the head or penetrates the skull, causing symptoms ranging from headaches and dizziness to permanent physical or mental disability”
- premenstrual dysphoric disorder (noun): “a form of premenstrual syndrome in which the symptoms are so severe that they are disabling and require treatment”
“This reflected an increasing awareness of these recognized circumstances,” Johnson said. For example, you may have seen traumatic brain injury or traumatic brain injury discussed in the context of football injuries. I recently discussed how Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered such an injury against the Buffalo Bills. “There’s a lot more discussion about physical and mental conditions in general,” Johnson added.
The two new terms that related to meat in different ways were “cultured meat” and “dudebro.” Farmed meat is “another term for cultured meat.” The ditonary.com definition for “guy‘ is that of a decidedly uneducated person: ‘A young, usually white man who is seen as unpleasantly entitled and often prejudiced or bigoted.’
“Hot rodent man” was another new addition to Dictionary.com. It is defined as “a idiosyncratic, … [+]
Finally, there were two nice new additions that had nothing to do with the weather. One was “hot rodent man,” which is defined as “a quirky, unconventionally handsome man (often a celebrity), likened to a physically attractive cartoon rat or mouse, and praised for qualities such as intelligence and sensitivity.” Then there was “baby girl,” which, oh dear, refers to: “A man as desirable because he is sensitive, cute, or emotional.”
The next big altercation for Dictionary.com will happen next winter. This winter will also be the date that Dictionary.com announces the 2023 Word of the Year. I asked Johnson what the chances are that “hot rodent man” will win this title. He replied that you never know.