thing

[ thing ]

/ θɪŋ /

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.

new thing, Jazz. free jazz.

the thing,

something that is correct or fashionable: That café is the thing now.
that which is expedient or necessary: The thing to do is to tell them the truth.

Idioms for thing

do/find one's own thing, Informal. to pursue a lifestyle that expresses one's self. Also do/find one's thing.

make a good thing of, Informal. to turn (a situation, experience, etc.) to one's own profit; benefit by: She made a good thing of her spare-time hobbies.

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.

see/hear things, Informal. to have hallucinations.

Origin of thing

before 900; Middle English; Old English: originally, “meeting”; see thing²

Words nearby thing

thin section, thin-film, thin-layer chromatography, thin-skinned, thine, thing, thing or two, thing-in-itself, thingamabob, thingamajig, thingness

Definition for thing (2 of 2)

thing ²

[ thing, ting ]

/ θɪŋ, tɪŋ /

noun

(in Scandinavian countries) a public meeting or assembly, especially a legislative assembly or a court of law.

Also ting.

Compare thingstead.

Origin of thing

1830–40; < Old Norse: assembly; cognate with thing¹, Dutch ding, German Ding thing, orig., meeting; akin to Gothic theihs time

Example sentences from the Web for thing

“They sure took the Sony thing seriously,” Attkisson said dryly.

Ex-CBS Reporter Sharyl Attkisson’s Battle Royale With the Feds |Lloyd Grove |January 9, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
But the other thing that needs to be done is for us citizens to do.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive |Ayaan Hirsi Ali |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
No one seems to know who that is—or why they would want to do such a thing.

Phylicia Rashad and the Cult of Cosby Truthers |Stereo Williams |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
When I was in Holland, this is the kind of thing people feared.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive |Ayaan Hirsi Ali |January 8, 2015 |DAILY BEAST

The first thing they told us was that the traffickers are now using Turkish ports, which are relatively easy to reach from Syria.

Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean |Barbie Latza Nadeau |January 6, 2015 |DAILY BEAST
Now I had never thought of such a thing until he suggested it.

The Story of Scraggles |George Wharton James
The latter would sometimes exclaim, before the agents and the heirs were fairly out of hearing, "I can't understand the thing!"

Ursula |Honore de Balzac
You know, looking after the stores and all that sort of thing.

The War-Workers |E.M. Delafield
All things were made by Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

The Gospel of St. John |Frederick Denison Maurice
One thing is very certain, for I have it on very good—I may say, the best—authority.

An Englishman in Paris |Albert D. (Albert Dresden) Vandam

British Dictionary definitions for thing (1 of 2)

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

informal a 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

informal the normal pattern of behaviour in a particular context not interested in the marriage thing

informal a 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)

the done thing acceptable or normal behaviour

the thing the latest fashion

be on to a good thing to be in a profitable situation or position

make a thing of to make a fuss about; exaggerate the importance of

Word Origin for thing

Old English thing assembly; related to Old Norse thing assembly, Old High German ding assembly

British Dictionary definitions for thing (2 of 2)

thing ²

/ (θɪŋ, tɪŋ) /

noun

(often capital) a law court or public assembly in the Scandinavian countries Also: ting

Word Origin for thing

C19: from Old Norse thing assembly (the same word as thing 1)

Idioms and Phrases with thing

thing

In addition to the idiom beginning with thing

thing or two
things are looking up

also see:

all the rage (thing)
all things to all men
amount to the same thing
do one's thing
first thing
first things first
for one (thing)
get (a thing) going
get into the swing of things
greatest thing since sliced bread
have a good thing going
have a thing about
just one of those things
know all the answers (a thing or two)
little knowledge is a dangerous thing
near thing
no such thing
not know beans (the first thing)
of all things
other things being equal
seeing things
sure thing
the latest (thing)
the thing
the thing is
too much of a good thing
very thing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

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thing

noun

Idioms for thing

Origin of thing

Words nearby thing

Definition for thing (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of thing

Example sentences from the Web for thing

British Dictionary definitions for thing (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for thing

British Dictionary definitions for thing (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for thing

Idioms and Phrases with thing

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

thing

noun

Idioms for thing

Origin of thing

Words nearby thing

Definition for thing (2 of 2)

noun

Origin of thing

Words related to thing

Example sentences from the Web for thing

British Dictionary definitions for thing (1 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for thing

British Dictionary definitions for thing (2 of 2)

noun

Word Origin for thing

Idioms and Phrases with thing