Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun Rock music characterized by confessional lyrics about emotional topics.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun uncountable, music, early 1990s A particular style of
hardcore punk rock - noun countable, early 1990s An individual or group of people associated with that subculture and musical style.
- noun uncountable, music, late 1990s-current Any form of
guitar -driven alternative rock that is particularly or notablyemotional - noun countable, late 1990s-current An individual or group of people associated with a fashion or stereotype of that style of rock.
- noun countable, 2000s A young person who is considered to be over-emotional or stereotypically emo.
- adjective often pejorative
Emotional ; sensitive. - adjective informal, often pejorative
Depressed . - adjective Associated with youth subcultures embodying emotional sensitivity.
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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Before 2007, the term emo had never achieved common usage in Mexico.
Down and Delirious in Mexico City Daniel Hernandez 2011
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Before 2007, the term emo had never achieved common usage in Mexico.
Down and Delirious in Mexico City Daniel Hernandez 2011
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Before 2007, the term emo had never achieved common usage in Mexico.
Down and Delirious in Mexico City Daniel Hernandez 2011
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Back when I was in high school, the term emo never existed.
How One Can Be "Emo" 2007
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He ` s part of what we call the emo man, the emotional man.
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(Japanese genre, kind of similar to what we call emo)
My Old Kentucky Blog 2009
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The next person who says "emo" is getting pistol-whipped.
Pantsbomber psyche laid bare in messageboard archives (corrected) Boing Boing 2009
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Wow, people still think the term "emo" is relevant? wonka bar
Screenwriter John August on NOT Writing Alice in Wonderland Three Times | /Film 2010
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Anonymous said ... seriously? there was a time when those people were just called depressed or had issues. being 'emo' is stupid, and it's a stupid label.
I'm gonna cut myself with this Lexus key. Jessica Hagy 2007
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On MySpace, they call it "emo" which is my word of the month.
Dave Winer and the Lost Orchestra Special Ben Barren 2006
skipvia commented on the word emo
I love this definition from the Urban Dictionary:
Genre of softcore punk music that integrates unenthusiastic melodramatic 17 year olds who don't smile, high pitched overwrought lyrics and inaudible guitar rifts with tight wool sweaters, tighter jeans, itchy scarfs (even in the summer), ripped chucks with favorite bands signature, black square rimmed glasses, and ebony greasy unwashed hair that is required to cover at least 3/5 ths of the face at an angle.
Note: I do realize that the word "rifts" should be "riffs," but I think I might invent a new guitar method employing rifts--you know, respecting the silent spaces between sounds, or whatever...
February 20, 2008
reesetee commented on the word emo
I gather that the author of that article isn't a raving fan....
February 20, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word emo
I think there's a link to a relevant image for this page. See lappet-faced. If that ain't emo, I don't know what is.
February 20, 2008
skipvia commented on the word emo
Reesetee, have you ever heard emo music? The only fans are members of other emo bands, and maybe their parents...
February 20, 2008
chained_bear commented on the word emo
I love the end, actually: "...hair that is required to cover 3/5ths of the face at an angle." Perfect.
February 20, 2008
reesetee commented on the word emo
I try to avoid it, skipvia. Too lappet-faced for me. ;-)
February 20, 2008
kewpid commented on the word emo
Emos are beautiful souls.
February 20, 2008