In celebration of Dictionary.com 20th anniversary, the folks managing the site took a look back at some of the words that have changed meaning in the last two decades reflecting how culture has changed as well.
Here are the 13 words believed to be changed by the Internet forever as reported by CBS News:
1. Cloud
Any of several parts of the Internet that allow online processing and storage of documents and data as well as electronic access to software and other resources.
2. Fail
To make an embarrassing or humorous mistake, be in a humiliating situation, etc and be subjected to ridicule.
3. Friend
To add a person to one's list of contacts on a social networking website.
4. Like
To indicate one's enjoyment of, agreement with, or interest in website content especially in social media.
5. Meme
A cultural item in the form of an image, video, phrase, etc., that is spread via the Internet and often altered in a creative or humorous way.
6. Ping
To make contact with someone by sending a brief electronic message, as a text message.
7. Profile
The personal details, images, user statistics, social media timeline, etc., that an individual creates and associates with a username or online account.
8. Swipe
To move the fingers across a touchscreen.
9. Text
To send a text message
10. Timeline
A collection of online posts or updates associated with a specific social-media account, in reverse chronological order.
11. Tweet
A Very short message posted on the Twitter website.
12. Viral
Becoming very popular by circulating quickly from person to person, especially through the Internet.
13. Unplug
To refrain from using digital or electronic devices for a period of time.
Now some of these words may have been nouns but now are being used as verbs. Others have an entirely different meaning from what they were initially used for. However, we cannot deny the shift in our culture with the onset of Internet and advancement of technology.
