[thing] n [ME, fr. OE, thing, assembly; akin to OHG ding thing, assembly, Goth theihs time] (bef. 12c) 1 a: a matter of concern: affair "many ~s to do" b pl: state of affairs in general or within a specified or implied sphere "~s are improving" c: a particular state of affairs: situation "look at this ~ another way" d: event, circumstance "that shooting was a terrible ~"
2. a: deed, act, accomplishment "do great ~s" b: a product of work or activity "likes to build ~s" c: the aim of effort or activity "the ~ is to get well" 3 a: a separate and distinct individual quality, fact, idea, or usu. 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 pl: possessions, effects "pack your ~s" b: whatever may be possessed or owned or be the object of a right c: an article of clothing "not a ~ to wear" d pl: equipment or utensils esp. for a particular purpose "bring the tea ~s"
5: an object or entity not precisely designated or capable of being designated "use this ~"
6. a: detail, point "checks every little ~" b: a material or substance of a specified kind "avoid fatty ~s"
7. a: a spoken or written observation or point b: idea, notion "says the first ~ he thinks of" c: a piece of news or information "couldn't get a ~ out of him" 8: individual "not a living ~ 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 ~ 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 ~ --Newsweek" "I think travelling is very much a novelist's ~ --Philip Larkin"