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thing
1[thing]
noun
a material object without life or consciousness; an inanimate object.
some entity, object, or creature that is not or cannot be specifically designated or precisely described.
The stick had a brass thing on it.
anything that is or may become an object of thought.
things of the spirit.
things, matters; affairs.
Things are going well now.
a fact, circumstance, or state of affairs.
It is a curious thing.
an action, deed, event, or performance.
to do great things; His death was a horrible thing.
a particular, respect, or detail.
perfect in all things.
an aim; objective.
The thing is to reach this line with the ball.
an article of clothing.
I don't have a thing to wear.
things,
implements, utensils, or other articles for service.
I'll wash the breakfast things.
personal possessions or belongings.
Pack your things and go!
a task; chore.
I've got a lot of things to do today.
a living being or creature.
His baby's a cute little thing.
a thought or statement.
I have just one thing to say to you.
Informal.a particular interest or talent.
Sports is not my thing.
Informal.a peculiar attitude or feeling, either positive or negative, toward something; mental quirk.
She has a thing about cats.
something signified or represented, as distinguished from a word, symbol, or idea representing it.
a topic, behavior, or activity involving or limited to a specified group.
It’s a girl thing, so you wouldn’t understand.
Informal.something that people do (often used in expressions of mild disapproval or mockery).
Since when did clapping at the end of a movie become a thing?
Law.anything that may be the subject of a property right.
Jazz.new thing, free jazz.
the thing,
something that is correct or fashionable.
That caf é is the thing now.
that which is expedient or necessary.
The thing to do is to tell them the truth.
thing
2[thing, ting]
noun
(in Scandinavian countries) a public meeting or assembly, especially a legislative assembly or a court of law.
thing
1/ θɪŋ /
noun
an object, fact, affair, circumstance, or concept considered as being a separate entity
any inanimate object
an object or entity that cannot or need not be precisely named
informala person or animal regarded as the object of pity, contempt, etc
you poor thing
an event or act
a thought or statement
law any object or right that may be the subject of property (as distinguished from a person)
a device, means, or instrument
(often plural) a possession, article of clothing, etc
informalthe normal pattern of behaviour in a particular context
not interested in the marriage thing
informala mental attitude, preoccupation or obsession (esp in the phrase have a thing about )
an activity or mode of behaviour satisfying to one's personality (esp in the phrase do one's ( own ) thing )
acceptable or normal behaviour
the latest fashion
to be in a profitable situation or position
to make a fuss about; exaggerate the importance of
thing
2/ θɪŋ, tɪŋ /
noun
Also: ting.(often capital) a law court or public assembly in the Scandinavian countries
51Թ History and Origins
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of thing1
Origin of thing2
Idioms and Phrases
do / find one's own thing, to pursue a lifestyle that expresses one's self. Also dofind one's thing.
not to get a thing out of,
to be unable to obtain information or news from.
The police couldn't get a thing out of him.
to fail to appreciate, understand, or derive aesthetic pleasure from.
My wife likes opera, but I don't get a thing out of it.
make a good thing of, to turn (a situation, experience, etc.) to one's own profit; benefit by.
She made a good thing of her spare-time hobbies.
see / hear things, to have hallucinations.
Example Sentences
"Languages are special things, and people can express themselves differently in different languages," she said.
"The biggest thing I remember was the crying. My daughter clearly needed support and my wife was noticeably struggling and exhausted."
But trying to inauthentically manage the situation and making things look overly staged could backfire and the "narrative of a feud will become permanently baked in".
"While social media will never be the sole and direct cause of an eating disorder, we know it can make things worse for those already at risk," he said.
"Ivor pinches, he bites and pulls and messes things up... he's not a normal brother," she said, adding her daughters are also his carers and give her "emotional support".
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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