Twitter Dictionary

What is Twitter?

Twitter is a free social messaging tool that lets people stay connected through brief text message updates up to 140 characters in length. Twitter is based on you answering the question "What are you doing?" You then post thoughts, observations and goings-on during the day. Your update is posted on your Twitter profile page through SMS text messaging, the Twitter Web site, instant messaging, RSS, e-mail or through other social applications and sites, such as Facebook.

Twitter Dictionary: Understanding Twitter Chat and Slang
As with any new social medium, there is an entire vocabulary that users of the Twitter service adopt. Most of the Twitter-based terms and phrases are used to describe the collection of people who use the service, while other terms are used in reference to describe specific functions and features of the service itself. Here are more than 30 words and phrases that are associated with the Twitter social service:

@reply: The @reply means a Twitter update (tweet) that is directed to another user in reply to one of their updates. A @reply will be saved in the user's replies tab. Replies are sent either by clicking the 'reply' icon next to an update or typing @ username message (e.g., @user I saw that movie too!).

attwaction: Slang term used to describe an attraction between two Twitterers (people who send tweets on the Twitter service).

BiggerTwitter: An app (or add-on) that can be used to post tweets longer than 140 characters on Twitter. BiggerTwitter works by placing a link in the tweet.

Blackbird: The name of a Twitter client for BlackBerry smartphones.

co-twitterer: A slang term used to describe a second person who tweets on a single Twitter account.

direct message (DM): On Twitter, DM is short for direct message, and it is used to send a private tweet (Twitter update) to a person you are following.

Dweet: Slang term used to describe a tweet send by a user who is drunk.

Fail Whale: On the Twitter site, the Fail Whale is an image of a whale held up by birds and nets. This image shows that Twitter has been overloaded or failed.

Follower / following: On Twitter, blogs, and other social media sites, a follower is someone who subscribes to receives your updates. On the Twitter Web site "following" someone means you will see their tweets (Twitter updates) in your personal timeline. Twitter lets you see who you follow and also who is following you. Followers are people who receive other people's Twitter updates.

Hash tag: A hash tag or hashtag is a way of organizing your Tweets for Twitter search engines. Users simply prefix a message with a community driven hash tag to enable others to discover relevant posts. One commonly used hash tag on Twitter is #followfriday where users network by providing the names of their favorite people to follow on Twitter.

microblog: A type of blog that lets users publish short text updates. Bloggers can usually use a number of service for the updates including instant messaging, e-mail, or Twitter. The posts are called microposts, while the act of using these services to update your blog is called microblogging.

mistweet: Slang term used to describe a tweet that you later regret having sent.

Monitter: Monitter is the name of a free Twitter tool that lets users monitter the Twitter service for a set of three keywords. Monitter then shows you what people are tweeting for the keywords.

PocketTweets: The name of a mobile Web-based Twitter client for the iPhone. You can use it to see the latest tweets from your contacts or to update your status remotely.

Retweet: Abbreviated as RT, retweet is used on Twitter to show you are tweeting content that has been posted by another user. The format is RT @username where username is the Twitter name of the person you are retweeting.

social networking site: Abbreviated as SNS a social networking site is the phrase used to describe any Web site that enables users to create public profiles within that Web site and form relationships with other users of the same Web site who access their profile. Social networking sites can be used to describe community-based Web sites, online discussions forums, chatrooms and other social spaces online.

Twaffic: A slang term used to mean "Twitter traffic".

Twalking: Slang term used to describe someone who is walking while they tweet (a Twitter message) using a mobile device.

Twebay: Slang term used to describe selling (or promoting) an eBay item on Twitter.

Tweeple: A slang term used to mean "Twitter people" and is used to refer to Twitter users.

Tweet: Describes a Twitter update. A tweet is basically whatever you type into the Web box to answer that question, using 140 characters or less. People tweet personal messages, random thoughts, post links, or anything else that fits in the character requirements.

twettiquette: Short for "Twitter etiquette" it is a slang term used to describe acceptable Twitter behavior.

tweetorial: Slang term used to describe used to describe tutoring or lecturing on or about Twitter. Some industry speakers use the term to describe a live event where a lecture on a Twitter topic is given (e.g., a seminar or event that teaches people how to use Twitter), while others use the term to describe giving a lecture on Twitter. Here the host speaker will use a special designated hash tag so others can follow the lecture on Twitter.

Twewbie: Short for "Twitter newbie" it is a slang term used to describe someone new to Twitter.

Twidroid: The name of a full-featured Twitter app designed for use on Android mobile phones.

Twishing: Twishing is a combination of the words Twitter and phishing. It is the act of sending a message to a Twitter user in an attempt to obtain his or her name and password. The message may instruct the recipient to visit a Web site where he or she is asked to log in. The Web site, however, is bogus and set up only to steal the user's information. See "Beware of Twishing" in the Did You Know...? section of Webopedia for more information on Twishing.

Twitosphere: An expression used to describe the "World of Twitter."

Twitter: A free social messaging tool that lets people stay connected through brief text message updates up to 140 characters in length. Twitter is based on you answering the question "What are you doing?" You then post thoughts, observations, and goings-on during the day. Your update is posted on your Twitter profile page through SMS text messaging, the Twitter Web site, instant messaging, RSS, e-mail, or through other social applications and sites, such as Facebook.

Twitter-ific: Short for "Twitter and terrific" it is a slang term used to describe something terrific you find on Twitter.

Twitter Sparq: The name of the first advertising service for Twitter. Sparq provides a self-service interface that lets advertisers quickly set up the ads. The ads appear on the right-hand column on Twitter as Tweet Now. When someone clicks on the link, it automatically populates the tweet box with the advertiser's message. This can include a link, as well as an option for the user to customize or add to the message.

TwitterTroll: The name of a free online service that searches Twitter in real-time. TwitterTroll can be used to help you find Twitterers with similar interests as yourself.

Twitterers: Refers to people who send tweets on the Twitter service.

Twittermaps: A mash-up that lets Twitter users update their locations on a Google Map and send a tweet with it.

Twitturly: The name of an online Web service that tracks Web addresses (URL) that are being tweeted about the most on Twitter.

Twittworking: Short for "Twitter networking" it is a slang term used to describe Twitterers who use Twitter to network.

If you know of a Twitter term or phrase that is not included in our list, please let us know.

Webopedia: Cool Twitter Tools for Better Tweeting
To help you sort out the best options for tweaking your Tweeter tactics, we take a look at several cool and useful Twitter tools including URL shrinks, Twitter clients and Twitter Web widgets to get you started.

Webopedia: Guide: Social Media and Your Business
The following Webopedia Guides to social media and social networking sites will offer definitions to help you learn the lingo, plus show to create a Facebook topic, business profile, and provide details on many social media-oriented sites you can use as a business marketing tool.

Webopedia: Twishing: Beware of the Latest ID Scam
This tricky combination of Phishing and Twitter Uses Common Scam Techniques to steal your identity.

Webopedia: Social Media: Tips For Small Business Marketing
The following list is not a complete list, but based on the site description it may help you narrow down which social sites would be best-suited to your business.

EcommerceGuide: Why Twitter Should Matter to E-Commerce Shops
Twitter may not be common among small e-commerce shops yet, but don't think your competition isn't thinking of ways to use the free service. Some of the practical applications listed below may offer insight into how you can use Twitter to grow your online sales.

EcommerceGuide: How to Use Twitter as an Online Marketing Tool
Twitter offer businesses a new way to market products, promote sales and boost revenue — if you tweet right, that is.

Expert Tips for a Tweeting Business
It's easy enough to use Twitter, but businesses have to use social media marketing in the same way they use any form of marketing — with a business plan and knowledge — to be successful.