object
English meaning: Object
Definition
A thing that has physical existence.
Example
“A small metal object lay glinting in the grass.”
Another example: “Several residents objected to the proposed new road.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A neutral noun for a physical thing, a goal or aim ('the object of the exercise'), and in grammar the recipient of a verb's action. Also a verb ('to object', stressed differently) meaning to disagree. Common across everyday and technical registers.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Medieval Latin 'objectum' ('thing presented to the mind'), from Latin 'obicere' ('to throw before'), from 'ob-' ('toward') + 'jacere' ('to throw'), in English from the 14th century.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- object of
- inanimate object
- object to
- direct object
- object of desire
Word Forms
object (n); objects (pl); object (v); objected; objecting
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B