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Miley-approved! 'Twerk' among words added to Oxford English Dictionary

Also, if you retweet a photobomber who's a hot mess, the OED is fine with that (at least when it comes to word usage).
/ Source: TODAY

The word "twerk" is one of the newest additions to the Oxford English Dictionary, proving yet again that — to paraphrase Miley Cyrus — it can't stop and it won't stop.

Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke perform "Blurred Lines" during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in New York
Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke perform \"Blurred Lines\" during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards in New York August 25, 2013. REUTERS/Lucas Jackson (UNITED STATES - Tags: ENTERTAINMENT) (MTV-SHOW)LUCAS JACKSON / Reuters

As a verb, the OED defines twerk as the act of dancing "to popular music in a sexually provocative manner, using thrusting movements of the bottom and hips while in a low, squatting stance." See also: Miley's go-to dance move in 2013.

While twerking has roots in African and African-American culture — including the word's repeated use in D.J. Jubilee's 1993 song "Jubilee All" — some still may be surprised that OED editors traced the word's origin all the way back to 1820, when "twirk" (with an "I" in the middle) meant "a twisting or jerking movement." According to the OED's June update, "The precise origin of the word is uncertain, but it may be a blend of twist or twitch and jerk."

Other notable additions to the OED include:

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