thing -
n. 1 a material or non-material entity, idea, action, etc., that is or may be thought about or perceived.
2 an
inanimate material object (take that
thing away).
3 an unspecified object or item (have a
few things to
buy).
4 an act, idea, or utterance (a silly
thing to do).
5 an event (an unfortunate
thing to happen).
6 a quality (patience is a useful
thing).
7 (with
ref. to a person) expressing pity, contempt, or affection (poor
thing!; a dear
old thing).
8 a specimen or type of some
thing (the latest
thing in hats).
9 colloq. one's special
interest or concern (not my
thing at all).
10 colloq. some
thing remarkable (now there's a
thing!).
11 (prec. by the) colloq. a what is conventionally proper or fashionable. b what is needed or required (your suggestion
was just the
thing). c what is to be considered (the
thing is, shall we go or not?). d what is important (the
thing about them is their reliability).
12 (in pl.) personal belongings or clo
thing (where have I left my
things?).
13 (in pl.) equipment (painting
things).
14 (in pl.) affairs in general (not in the nature of
things).
15 (in pl.) circumstances or conditions (
things look good).
16 (in pl. with a following adjective) all that is so describable (all
things Greek).
17 (in pl.) Law
property.
do one's own thing colloq. pursue one's own interests or inclinations. do things to colloq. affect remarkably. have a thing about colloq. be obsessed or prejudiced about. make a thing of colloq.
1 regard as essential.
2 cause a fuss about. one (or just one) of those things colloq. something unavoidable or to be accepted. [OE f. Gmc]