Much like bling in the past, crunk has made it into Webster's Dictionary.

"There's only one rule for a new word getting in: If it's likely to be found in printed reading matter — magazines, newspapers, novels — it's likely to get in," Peter Sokolowski, an associate of Webster's told MTV recently.

Crunk fit the bill and was added, along with a few other words.

Want to know what it is going down for?

Crunk, according to the dictionary is defined as "a style of Southern rap music featuring repetitive chants and rapid dance rhythms."

Why did they pick crunk?

"We try to include words that aren't just trends...We're looking for words that will be referred to in the future and people won't need any explanation to know what it means. If the editor of a newspaper can publish a word and he or she expects readers to know what it means, we'll include it," the associate added.

"It has to be said that when a word makes it into the dictionary, it's already past being cool. It's no longer cutting-edge...I mean, a crunk song won an Oscar a few years back [Three 6 Mafia's 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp' from 'Hustle & Flow,' which took home the award for Best Original Song in 2005], so it's already become part of the establishment."

He went on to state that different things are needed to put it in the dictionary.

"The etymology is important, and the fact is, sometimes we don't know. We're not sure about crunk. It either comes from this blend of the words 'crazy' and 'drunk,' or it's an alteration of 'cranked up,' meaning high-energy...People are being playful with their language. In the South, people [say], 'Let's get crunk,' or, 'Let me crunk this engine.' "
 
Don't expect Hip-Hop to stop influencing the dictionary. According to him, hyphy might be next.