Webster's Open Dictionary

Have you seen any robotainment lately? Met anyone that calls themselves a concoctionist?

Are these really words? Yep. According to a new Merriam-Webster online dictionary anyway.

In addition to their online dictionary and thesaurus - the Merriam-Webster web page also contains a dictionary that classifies unusual words created from popular usage, colloquialisms and current slang. Terms found in the Open Dictionary are submitted by readers and are REALLY different from typical entries in the regular dictionary. Some recently submitted definitions include:

• Gastronaut (noun) : An out of this world chef. Derived from latin 'Gastro-' meaning stomach, belly. Usage: Such a meal could only be cooked by the finest Gastronaut in the galaxy.


• Informatia (noun) : a collection of individuals or groups that form a collective online or electronic-based identity. Usage: Informatias are beginning to serve as the foundation of online interaction.


• polkadotical (adjective) : Having a lot of polka-dots. Usage: The shirt Caroline was wearing was very polkadotical.


• Starbuckian (noun) : The lingo used by Starbucks employees to converse with each other. Can also be altered to refer to other coffee shops and their lingo. Usage: She isn't fluent enough in Starbuckian to understand what was said.