celeb
UK[sɪˈlɛb]US[səˈlɛb]
n
A famous person, especially in entertainment or sports; a celebrity.
Etymology
The word 'celeb' is a modern English slang term, a clipped form of 'celebrity'. 'Celebrity' itself entered English in the late 14th century from Latin 'celebritas', meaning 'multitude, fame', which derives from 'celeber' meaning 'frequented, populous, famous'. The core semantic shift is from a state of being crowded or much-frequented to a condition of public renown. The 20th-century clipping 'celeb' reflects a casual, journalistic trend to abbreviate long words, capturing the essence of the modern concept of fame in a brief, informal label.
Analysis
This word is a clipping, a shortened form derived from the longer word "celebrity." It does not contain independent, meaningful morphemes in its current form.
Examples
The restaurant was full of models and minor celebs.
He became an overnight celeb after the viral video.
The magazine specializes in gossip about Hollywood celebs.