Emoticon

An emoticon, also called a smiley, is a sequence of printable characters such as :), ^-^, or :-) or a small image that is intended to represent a human facial expression and convey an emotion. Emoticons are a form of para language commonly used in email messages, in online bulletin boards, or in chat rooms. The word emoticon is a portmanteau based on emotion and icon.

Related Topics:
Smiley - Facial expression - Emotion - Para language - Email - Online bulletin boards - Chat rooms - Portmanteau - Icon

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A similar portmanteau, verticon (based on vertical and icon), is sometimes used when referring to the East Asian style of emoticon.

Related Topics:
Vertical - East Asian style

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