by Jessica Wong, CBCNews.ca

For writers or people who love language, it's usually an interesting day when a new slate of words makes it into the dictionary.

This week, the folks at Merriam-Webster announced the addition of dozens of wordsto the latest edition of their Collegiate Dictionary.

Amid a gaggle of techie-inspired entries, it was satisfying to see a cluster of food-related entries, including edamame (immature green soybeans), pescatarian (a vegetarian who also eats fish), prosecco (a type of Italian sparkling wine) and soju (Korean vodka distilled from rice).

Edamame, or immature green soybeans, have become much more common in North American cuisine. (Lee Reich/Associated Press)

"As soon as we see the word used without explanation or translation or gloss, we consider it a naturalized citizen of the English language," Peter Sokolowski, a Merriam-Webster editor-at-large, told the Associated Press.

"If somebody is using it to convey a specific idea and that idea is successfully conveyed in that word, it's ready to go in the dictionary."

According to the editors, the food-related entries reflect the general public's growing interest in the culinary arts — something I've definitely noticed.

While visiting some relatives this week, I cracked open the freezer in a quest for ice cubes and found it packed full of frozen edamame — this from a family that had in the past seemed practically allergic to fruit, vegetables and salads.

Not too long before this, a friend who is attempting a more vegetarian-like diet (but admitted to giving in to fish and seafood) was delighted when I described her current state as pescatarian.

Personally, two of the newer terms in my food vocabulary include "locavore" — those who only eat locally grown/produced and seasonally available food — and miracle fruit — the quirky West African berry that temporarily fools the taste buds into thinking sour foods are sweet.

What food-related words or phrases have popped into your life recently?