n.
- an object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to.
▸
(things)
personal belongings or clothing.
- an inanimate material object as distinct from a living being.
▸a living creature or plant.
▸a person or animal in terms of one's feelings of pity, approval, etc.:
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you lucky thing!
- an action, activity, concept, or thought.
▸
(things)
unspecified circumstances or matters.
-
(the thing)
informal what is needed or required.
▸what is socially acceptable or fashionable.
-
(one's thing)
informal one's special interest or concern.
Phrase
- be hearing
(or seeing)
things
imagine that one can hear (or see) something that is not in fact there. - a close
(or near)
thing
a narrow avoidance of something unpleasant. - do one's own thing
informal follow one's own inclinations regardless of others. - have a thing about
informal have a preoccupation or obsession with. - there is only one thing for it
there is only one possible course of action.
Etymology
OE (also in the senses ‘meeting’ and ‘matter, concern’), of Gmc origin.
