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Google is the New Verb on Webster!
Techtree News Staff, Jul 10, 2006 1214 hrs ISTThe US-based Merriam-Webster Dictionary has announced adding the term "google" to the latest version of its Collegiate Dictionary.
The US-based Merriam-Webster Dictionary has announced adding the term "google" to the latest version of its Collegiate Dictionary.
Merriam-Webster classifies the word "Google" as a Verb, and this has been approved by various English-language dictionaries. The development means that in addition to being a proper noun, the word "google," without capitalisation of the "g," is now a common transitive Verb. Derived forms of this new Verb are "googled" and "googling".
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines google as "to use the Google search engine to obtain information about (as a person) on the World Wide Web".
Along with "google," new science and technology terms like agritourism, bio-diesel, mouse potato, ring tone, and spy-ware have been like-wise added to various English-language dictionaries.
However, Google says that Merriam-Webster is in fact defining the term for people, using Google specifically rather than other Internet search engines. The search giant is aware of the potential damage such everyday use might bring upon its trademark name.
The company fears that the word "google" might end-up being so commonly used that it becomes synonymous with the word "search". If this happens, Google could lose protection for this trademark, which could result in other people using the word "google" to refer to their own products, thus diminishing brand Google.
On the bright side, Google now joins the ranks of well-known brand names like "Xerox," used by many to refer to the act of making a photocopy on any machine, and "Walkman," a Sony-branded name that is oft used to describe portable audio players that don't actually bear that name.
Merriam-Webster classifies the word "Google" as a Verb, and this has been approved by various English-language dictionaries. The development means that in addition to being a proper noun, the word "google," without capitalisation of the "g," is now a common transitive Verb. Derived forms of this new Verb are "googled" and "googling".
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines google as "to use the Google search engine to obtain information about (as a person) on the World Wide Web".
Along with "google," new science and technology terms like agritourism, bio-diesel, mouse potato, ring tone, and spy-ware have been like-wise added to various English-language dictionaries.
However, Google says that Merriam-Webster is in fact defining the term for people, using Google specifically rather than other Internet search engines. The search giant is aware of the potential damage such everyday use might bring upon its trademark name.
The company fears that the word "google" might end-up being so commonly used that it becomes synonymous with the word "search". If this happens, Google could lose protection for this trademark, which could result in other people using the word "google" to refer to their own products, thus diminishing brand Google.
On the bright side, Google now joins the ranks of well-known brand names like "Xerox," used by many to refer to the act of making a photocopy on any machine, and "Walkman," a Sony-branded name that is oft used to describe portable audio players that don't actually bear that name.
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