It started with 20,000 words and now includes 35,000

Collins Gem dictionary spokeswoman

The search is now on to find this year's defining word as the dictionary celebrates 100 years in print.

Collins Gem has compiled a list of words considered to define each year since the dictionary was first sold for a penny.

Women's Viagra

Pink Viagra and in silico are among those vying for the title of 2002's defining word.

Last year's word was B4, the abbreviation used in mobile phone text-messaging to mean before.

And dictionary experts claim Teddy Bear was the defining word of 1902.

Some words featured in 1902 edition

Birthday card manic depressive floosie door-to-door glad rags limousine

Collins claims that in silico - computer programming in virtual laboratories - is one of the most used words of 2002 so far.

But Pink Viagra described as Viagra for women, a pill for improving sexual pleasure, may yet be this year's defining word.

A spokeswoman for Collins said it was early days to decide which would be the word of the year.

In 100 years, the pocket dictionary had almost doubled in size.

She said: "It started with 20,000 words and now includes 35,000.

"There is also a word bank of some 450 million words that have been part of the language at one stage or another."

Unfashionable words

While some words have gone out of use or changed their meanings in the past century, others are still in common usage.

And new words are constantly making their entry into the dictionary.

Words that were included in the first edition of the dictionary in 1902 but are no longer commonly used include bovrilize meaning to condense and groceteria meaning a self-service grocery.

Spike-bozzle, meaning to destroy or badly damage an enemy weapon, has also gone out of use since it was first included in the dictionary's first edition.

Words that have changed in meaning since 1902 include nondescript.

It used to mean 'that has not been described' but now means lacking outstanding features.

And where noodle was once the noun used to describe a 'simpleton' it now means long thin strips of pasta.