thing — an object, entity, or matter that one need not or cannot give a specific name to
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: an object, entity, or matter that one need not or cannot give a specific name to
Pronunciation (IPA): /θɪŋ/
Example Sentences
- I can't find my keys anywhere - where do these things go?
- The best thing about weekends is sleeping in.
- My cat does the weirdest things when nobody's watching.
thing
NOUN[/θɪŋ/]
an object, entity, or matter that one need not or cannot give a specific name to
A traveler searches for their lost thing among mysterious objects
One little thing makes a ring fit for a king!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Old Norse þing, derived from Proto-Germanic *þingaz, originally meaning 'assembly' or 'meeting'. In Viking culture, þing referred to formal gatherings where important matters were discussed and decided, a meaning that gradually broadened to encompass 'matter', 'affair', and eventually the modern sense of 'object' or 'thing'.
Breakdown
Proto-Germanic *þingaz (assembly, gathering) → Old Norse þing (meeting, assembly) → English thing (object, matter). The semantic shift reflects the conceptual evolution from a concrete public gathering to an abstract notion of any matter or object under discussion.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“I can't find my keys anywhere - where do these things go?”
“The best thing about weekends is sleeping in.”
“My cat does the weirdest things when nobody's watching.”
“Learning English is not an easy thing to do.”
“Don't worry about such small things in life.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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