n.
Pronunciation: ' thi ŋ
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, thing, assembly; akin to Old High German ding thing, assembly, Gothic theihs time
Date: before 12th century
1 a : a matter of concern : AFFAIR <many thing s to do> b plural : state of affairs in general or within a specified or implied sphere < thing s are improving> c : a particular state of affairs : SITUATION <look at this thing another way> d : EVENT , CIRCUMSTANCE <that shooting was a terrible thing >
2 a : DEED , ACT , ACCOMPLISHMENT <do great thing s > b : a product of work or activity <likes to build thing s > c : the aim of effort or activity <the thing is to get well>
3 a : a separate and distinct individual quality, fact, idea, or usually entity b : the concrete entity as distinguished from its appearances c : a spatial entity d : an inanimate object distinguished from a living being
4 a plural : POSSESSIONS , EFFECTS <pack your thing s > b : whatever may be possessed or owned or be the object of a right c : an article of clothing <not a thing to wear> d plural : equipment or utensils especially for a particular purpose <bring the tea thing s >
5 : an object or entity not precisely designated or capable of being designated <use this thing >
6 a : DETAIL , POINT <checks every little thing > b : a material or substance of a specified kind <avoid fatty thing s >
7 a : a spoken or written observation or point b : IDEA , NOTION <says the first thing he thinks of> c : a piece of news or information <couldn't get a thing out of him>
8 : INDIVIDUAL <not a living thing in sight>
9 : the proper or fashionable way of behaving, talking, or dressing ― used with the
10 a : a mild obsession or phobia <has a thing about driving> also : the object of such an obsession or phobia b : something (as an activity) that makes a strong appeal to the individual : FORTE , SPECIALTY <letting students do their own thing ― Newsweek > <I think travelling is very much a novelist's thing ― Philip Larkin>