thing

¹

[thing]

noun

1. a material object without life or consciousness; an inanimate object.

2. some entity, object, or creature that is not or cannot be specifically designated or precisely described.

   The stick had a brass thing on it.

3. anything that is or may become an object of thought.

   things of the spirit.

4. things, matters; affairs.

   Things are going well now.

5. a fact, circumstance, or state of affairs.

   It is a curious thing.

6. an action, deed, event, or performance.

   to do great things; His death was a horrible thing.

7. a particular, respect, or detail.

   perfect in all things.

8. an aim; objective.

   The thing is to reach this line with the ball.

9. an article of clothing.

   I don't have a thing to wear.

10. things,

    1. implements, utensils, or other articles for service.

       I'll wash the breakfast things.

    2. personal possessions or belongings.

       Pack your things and go!

11. a task; chore.

    I've got a lot of things to do today.

12. a living being or creature.

    His baby's a cute little thing.

13. a thought or statement.

    I have just one thing to say to you.

14. Informal.,  a particular interest or talent.

    Sports is not my thing.

15. Informal.,  a peculiar attitude or feeling, either positive or negative, toward something; mental quirk.

    She has a thing about cats.

16. something signified or represented, as distinguished from a word, symbol, or idea representing it.

17. a topic, behavior, or activity involving or limited to a specified group.

    It’s a girl thing, so you wouldn’t understand.

18. 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?

19. Law.,  anything that may be the subject of a property right.

20. Jazz.,  new thing, free jazz.

21. the thing,

    1. something that is correct or fashionable.

       That caf é is the thing now.

    2. that which is expedient or necessary.

       The thing to do is to tell them the truth.

thing

²

[thing, ting]

noun

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

thing

¹

/ θɪŋ /

noun

1. an object, fact, affair, circumstance, or concept considered as being a separate entity

2. any inanimate object

3. an object or entity that cannot or need not be precisely named

4. informal,  a person or animal regarded as the object of pity, contempt, etc

   you poor thing

5. an event or act

6. a thought or statement

7. law any object or right that may be the subject of property (as distinguished from a person)

8. a device, means, or instrument

9. (often plural) a possession, article of clothing, etc

10. informal,  the normal pattern of behaviour in a particular context

    not interested in the marriage thing

11. informal,  a mental attitude, preoccupation or obsession (esp in the phrase have a thing about )

12. an activity or mode of behaviour satisfying to one's personality (esp in the phrase do one's ( own ) thing )

13. acceptable or normal behaviour

14. the latest fashion

15. to be in a profitable situation or position

16. to make a fuss about; exaggerate the importance of

thing

²

/ θɪŋ, tɪŋ /

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of thing¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English: originally, “meeting”; thing ²

Origin of thing²

First recorded in 1820–30; from Old Norse: “assembly, meeting”; cognate with thing ¹, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish ting, Dutch ding, German Ding “thing,” originally, “meeting”; akin to Gothic theihs “time”

Word History and Origins

Origin of thing¹

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

Origin of thing²

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

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

2. not to get a thing out of,

   1. to be unable to obtain information or news from.

      The police couldn't get a thing out of him.

   2. to fail to appreciate, understand, or derive aesthetic pleasure from.

      My wife likes opera, but I don't get a thing out of it.

3. 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.

4. see / hear things, to have hallucinations.

More idioms and phrases containing thing

• 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

Example Sentences

“I really can’t put into words what makes it so magical, but there is a definite thing there that you feel when you’re actually there. I’ve loved it since I was a little kid.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Just kind of lost on that thing, and if anyone knows me, knows I’m never going to cheat or anything like that.”

From Los Angeles Times

A Ventura County naval base wants its neighbors to know they’re going to host some guests — and things might get loud over the next few weeks.

From Los Angeles Times

One thing that has been unique to Tuchel is the relatively small number of games he's taken charge of in the opening months of his tenure compared to other recent England managers.

From BBC

In a political climate where every cultural figure can become instantly polarizing, Oasis’ reunion was the closest thing the U.K. got to a national consensus.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• anything 
• business 
• concept 
• concern 
• element 
• everything 
• fact 
• information 
• item 
• material 
• matter 
• object 
• part 
• person 
• phenomenon 
• piece 
• point 
• situation 
• stuff 
• subject