Twitter to enter dictionary

Twitter will join ranks with Google later this year when it is added to the Collins English Dictionary.

The social-networking tool has shot to fame this year but has been around since 2006.

Used by millions of people all over the world to send brief messages and share information on the web, the word Twitter will be added to the 30th anniversary edition of the dictionary to be published later this year.

What is Twitter?

Twitter will be listed as both a noun and a verb. Under the noun entry, its meaning will be listed as "a website where people can post short messages about their current activities".

Twitter's entry as a verb in the Collins dictionary will read: "To write short messages on the Twitter website."

Along with the listing of Twitter, Twitterati, referring to those who use the website, will also be listed, as will Twitterverse, a definition pertaining to the website and its users.

Elaine Higgleton, Collins editorial director, told the Daily Mail: "Hardly a day goes by when you don't see some Twitter-related article. Hence I find it entirely unsurprising that this year we have not one Twitter-related entry in the dictionary, but three."

Check out Web User's list of famous Twitterati