object

¹ob·ject

noun \ˈäb-jikt, -(ˌ)jekt\

Definition of OBJECT

1

a : something material that may be perceived by the senses <I see an object in the distance> b : something that when viewed stirs a particular emotion (as pity) <look to the tragic loading of this bed … the object poisons sight; let it be hid — Shakespeare>

2

a : something mental or physical toward which thought, feeling, or action is directed <an object for study> <the object of my affection> <delicately carved art objects> b : something physical that is perceived by an individual and becomes an agent for psychological identification <the mother is the primary object of the child>

3

a : the goal or end of an effort or activity : purpose, objective <their object is to investigate the matter thoroughly> b : a cause for attention or concern <money is no object>

4

: a thing that forms an element of or constitutes the subject matter of an investigation or science

5

a : a noun or noun equivalent (as a pronoun, gerund, or clause) denoting the goal or result of the action of a verb b : a noun or noun equivalent in a prepositional phrase

6

a : a data structure in object-oriented programming that can contain functions as well as data, variables, and other data structures b : a discrete entity (as a window or icon) in computer graphics that can be manipulated independently of other such entities

— ob·ject·less \-ləs\ adjective

— ob·ject·less·ness noun

Examples of OBJECT

1. There were three objects in the box: a comb, a pen, and a button.
2. His object is to determine how much the business will cost to operate.

Origin of OBJECT

Middle English, from Medieval Latin objectum, from Latin, neuter of objectus, past participle of obicere to throw in the way, present, hinder, from ob- in the way + jacere to throw — more at ob-, jet

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to OBJECT

Synonyms: thing

Related Words: article, item, piece; being, entity, substance; commodity, good, ware; dingus, doohickey, thingamabob, thingamajig (or thingumajig), thingummy, whatchamacallit, whatnot; accessory (also accessary), accompaniment, bauble, curio; gaud, gewgaw (also geegaw), knickknack (also nicknack), novelty, ornamental, spangle, token, trinket

Near Antonyms: nonentity

see all synonyms and antonyms

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See Synonym Discussion at intention

Rhymes with OBJECT

abject, advect, affect, aspect, bisect, cathect, collect, confect, connect, convect, correct, cowl-necked, defect, deflect, deject, detect, direct, Dordrecht, effect, eject, elect, erect, ewe-necked, expect, goosenecked, infect, inflect, inject, insect, inspect, neglect, pandect, porrect, prefect, prelect, project, prospect, protect, refect, reflect, reject, resect, respect, ring-necked, roll-necked, select, stiff-necked, subject, suspect, traject, transect, trisect, Utrecht, V-necked