Official: Google makes it as a verb

'To google' has finally been added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary

The term 'google' has been added to the Merriam-Webster dictionary as a verb, finally giving official status to the popular term 'googling'.

The online version of the dictionary defines the term as: 'To use the Google search engine to obtain information about [a person or thing] on the world wide web.'

'Googling' was added this week alongside a number of other popular, and not so popular, technical terms such as 'spyware', 'ringtone' and 'mouse potato'. The latter describes someone who spends too long sitting at the computer.

'Biodiesel', 'supersize' and 'unibrow' were also among the new Merriam-Webster additions. 'Unibrow' is defined as 'a single continuous brow resulting from the growing together of eyebrows.'

However, the Oxford English Dictionary beat Merriam-Webster to the punch. The OED added 'google' as a verb in its June update of terms, defining the term as: 'To use the Google search engine to find information on the internet. To search for information about (a person or thing) using the Google search engine.'

Word fans out there will probably be aware that 'google' has long been included in the OED in a reference to cricket.

The delivery of an off-break with an apparent leg-break action is known as a 'googly'. The bowler of such a ball is known therefore as a 'googler' or a 'googly' bowler.