CNN reports today that a number of new words have been added to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), including a number of internet-related abbreviations, like "LOL" (laughing out loud).  It also includes new uses for old words, like using "heart" as a verb (as in "I heart the library" instead of  "I love the library.").

 

It's important to keep in mind that dictionaries like the OED are a record of language as it's actually used, not necessarily a guide to the proper use of language.  That said, it's full of not only basic definitions, but also in-depth histories of word uses.  The library subscribes to the online version of the OED, which you can use from the databases page of our site.