Definition of "thing" in Anglais

noun

1. That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept.

2. A word, symbol, sign, or other referent that can be used to refer to any entity.

3. An individual object or distinct entity.

4. Whatever can be owned.

5. Corporeal object.

6. (in the plural) Possessions or equipment; stuff; gear.

   • Hold on, let me just grab my things.

7. (somewhat dated, with the) The latest fad or fashion.

   • To go to bed late, to rise late, to breakfast late, to dine late, and to visit late, is to be “quite the thing,” or in good English, which you may understand better than the first phrase, to be in the fashion.

8. (informal) A custom or practice.

   • Cheek kissing is a French thing; you get used to it after a while.

9. (informal, with a) A genuine concept, entity or phenomenon; something that actually exists (often contrary to expectation or belief).

   • Q: Bacon pie? Is that a thing? A: Yes, I checked into it, and it's a thing. Some people are even connoisseurs about it.

10. (informal) A unit or container, usually containing consumable goods.

    • Could you get me a thing of apple juice at the store?
    • I just ate a whole thing of jelly beans.

11. (informal) A problem, dilemma, or complicating factor.

    • The car looks cheap, but the thing is, I have doubts about its safety.

12. (informal, with the) The central point; the crux.

    • That's the thing: we don't know where he is.

13. (slang, euphemistic) A penis.

14. (slang, euphemistic) A vulva or vagina.

15. A living being or creature.

    • you poor thing
    • sweet young thing
    • she's a funny old thing, but her heart's in the right place
    • I met a pretty blond thing at the bar

16. Used after a noun to refer dismissively to the situation surrounding the noun's referent.

    • Oh yeah, I'm supposed to promote that vision thing.
    • Don’t forget to have Gomez postpone that shooting thing. (in reference to the execution of Fernandez)

17. (informal, used possessively, chiefly in the negative) That which is favoured; personal preference.

    • it's not really my thing
    • Tool talk [is] not my thing.