dork vs. nerd

dork vs. nerd: What’s the difference?

Dork and nerd are sometimes used in ways that are intended to imply different shades of meaning about the person they’re referring to. In general, though, they often mean about the same thing, and they can both be used negatively, positively, or in a self-deprecating way.

dork

[dawrk] / dɔrk /

noun

Slang. a silly, out-of-touch person who tends to look odd or behave ridiculously around others; a social misfit.

If you make me wear that, I’ll look like a total dork!

Synonyms:

geek , nerd , schmo , jerk
Slang: Vulgar. penis.

nerd

[nurd] / nɜrd /

Rarely nurd

noun

a single-minded person obsessed with a hobby or pursuit or with a particular topic.

My 13-year-old son is a computer nerd.
I joined a book club and discovered another Jane Austen nerd.
a person considered to be socially awkward, boring, unstylish, etc.

verb (used without object)

to spend inordinate amounts of time, attention, energy, enthusiasm, etc., on an activity or topic of special interest to oneself; geek.

I enjoy samurai movies, nerding about samurai movies, and the occasional slice of cake.
Don't cross the street while you're nerding on your phone—you're likely to get hit!

verb phrase

nerd out to engage with excessive enthusiasm in a hobby or in discussion about a topic of special interest to oneself.

Back in the day, I nerded out hardcore over baseball cards.
We sat there for half an hour while she nerded out on the metaphysical poets.
nerd up to alter or be altered in a way that shows excessive enthusiasm for a special interest.

He appears in that film nerded up as a philosophy genius.
I'm going to nerd up my office with these five Charlie Chaplin posters.
Wow, this simple conversation about cheese sure nerded up fast!

idioms

nerd it up, to indulge oneself without restraint in a hobby, game, etc., in which one has an obsessive interest.

Looking forward to nerding it up with everybody on Comic Trading Day at the store!