Twerking, the term made famous from 20-year-old Miley Cyrus’ raunchy MTV Video Music Awards act, is the latest addition to Oxford Dictionaries Online.
The dictionary definition: It’s a verb used to explain a “dance to popular music in a sexually provocative manner involving thrusting hip movements and a low, squatting stance.”
The dance moves themselves have been around for a couple decades — called dirty dancing, for instance. But Miley’s moves, which were subjected to much criticism for their blatant and in-your-face sexual aggressiveness during a televised event that targets the teen crowd, cast especial limelight on the term twerking. And the dictionary people with Oxford Dictionaries Press have listened, adding the word just this week.
Other new additions to the dictionary: Selfie, blondie, geek chic, pixie cut, LDR, MOOC and girl crush.
LDR is a long-distance relationship. MOOC is a free Internet course of study.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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