“thing” – English explanatory dictionary

noun 1. something which is not living, which is not a plant or animal ○ Can you see that black thing in the pan of soup? ○ What do you use that big blue thing for? 2. a usually kind way of talking to or about a person or animal ○ You silly thing! ○ The lady in the sweet shop is a dear old thing. 3. something in general ○ They all just sat there and didn’t say a thing. ○ The first thing to do is to call an ambulance. ○ That was a stupid thing to do! □ a good thing something lucky ○ It’s a good thing there was no policeofficer on duty at the door. □ first thing in the morning as soon as you get up ○ First thing in the morning, he does his exercises. □ last thing at night just before you go to bed 4. a problem or worry ○ It never stops, it’s just one thing after another. 5. □ to have a thing about something to have strong feelings about something (informal.) ○ He has a thing about spiders. ○ She’s got a thing about men with beards.

(thing), n. [AS. þing a thing, cause, assembly, judicial assembly; akin to þingan to negotiate, þingian to reconcile, conciliate, D. ding a thing, OS. thing thing, assembly, judicial assembly, G. ding a thing, formerly also an assembly, court, Icel. þing a thing, assembly, court, Sw. & Dan. ting; perhaps originally used of the transaction of or before a popular assembly, or the time appointed for such an assembly; cf. G. dingen to bargain, hire, MHG. dingen to hold court, speak before a court, negotiate, Goth. þeihs time, perhaps akin to L. tempus time. Cf. Hustings, and Temporal of time.]
1. Whatever exists, or is conceived to exist, as a separate entity, whether animate or inanimate; any separable or distinguishable object of thought. “God made … every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind.” Gen. i. 25. “He sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt.” Gen. xiv. 23. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever.” Keats.
2. An inanimate object, in distinction from a living being; any lifeless material. “Ye meads and groves, unconscious things!” Cowper.
3. A transaction or occurrence; an event; a deed. “[And Jacob said] All these things are against me.” Gen. xlii. 36. “Which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things.” Matt. xxi. 24.
4. A portion or part; something. “Wicked men who understand any thing of wisdom.” Tillotson.
5. A diminutive or slighted object; any object viewed as merely existing; — often used in pity or contempt. “See, sons, what things you are!” Shak. “The poor thing sighed, and … turned from me.” Addison. “I’ll be this abject thing no more.” Granville. “I have a thing in prose.” Swift.
6. pl. Clothes; furniture; appurtenances; luggage; as to pack or store one’s things. [Colloq.] Formerly, the singular was sometimes used in a plural or collective sense. “And them she gave her moebles and her thing.” Chaucer. Thing was used in a very general sense in Old English, and is still heard colloquially where some more definite term would be used in careful composition. “In the garden [he] walketh to and fro,
And hath his things [i. e., prayers, devotions] said full courteously.” Chaucer. “Hearkening his minstrels their things play.” Chaucer.
7. (Law) Whatever may be possessed or owned; a property; — distinguished from person.
8. [In this sense pronounced ting.] In Scandinavian countries, a legislative or judicial assembly. Longfellow. Things personal. (Law) Same as Personal property, under Personal. — Things real. Same as Real property, under Real.