Item vs. Thing

Item vs. Thing — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Item and Thing

Itemnoun

A distinct physical object.

Tweezers are great for manipulating small items.

Thingnoun

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

Itemnoun

An object that can be picked up for later use.

Thingnoun

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

Itemnoun

A line of text having a legal or other meaning; a separate particular in an account.

the items in a billIn response to the first item, we deny all wrongdoing.

Thingnoun

An individual object or distinct entity.

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Itemnoun

(psychometrics) A question on a test, which may include its answers.

The exam has 100 items, each of which includes a correct response and three distractors.

Thingnoun

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

Bacon pie? Is that a thing?

Itemnoun

A matter for discussion in an agenda.

The first item for discussion is the budget for next year's picnic.

Thingnoun

(legal)

Itemnoun

(informal) Two people who are having a relationship with each other.

Jack and Jill are an item.

Thingnoun

Whatever can be owned.

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Itemnoun

A short article in a newspaper.

an item concerning the weather

Thingnoun

Corporeal object.

Itemnoun

(obsolete) A hint; an innuendo.

Thingnoun

The latest fad or fashion.

What do you mean you don't twerk, Stacy? It's the latest thing!

Itemverb

(transitive) To make a note of.

Thingnoun

(in the plural) Clothes, possessions or equipment.

Hold on, let me just grab my things.

Itemadverb

likewise

Thingnoun

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

get me a thing of apple juice at the store;I just ate a whole thing of jelly beans

Itemnoun

a distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list;

he noticed an item in the New York Timesshe had several items on her shopping listthe main point on the agenda was taken up first

Thingnoun

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

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

Itemnoun

a whole individual unit; especially when included in a list or collection;

they reduced the price on many items

Thingnoun

(slang) A penis.

Itemnoun

a small part that can be considered separately from the whole;

it was perfect in all details

Thingnoun

A living being or creature.

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

Itemnoun

an isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole;

several of the details are similara point of information

Thingnoun

That which matters; the crux.

that's the thing: we don't know where he went;the thing is, I don't have any money

Itemnoun

an individual instance of a type of symbol;

the word`error' contains three tokens of `r'

Thingnoun

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.

Itemadverb

(used when listing or enumerating items) also;

a length of chain, item a hook

Thingnoun

(informal) That which is favoured; personal preference. (Used in possessive constructions.)

Thingnoun

A public assembly or judicial council in a Germanic country.

Thingnoun

(informal) A romantic relationship.

Thingverb

(rare) To express as a thing; to reify.

Thingnoun

a special situation;

this thing has got to endit is a remarkable thing

Thingnoun

an action;

how could you do such a thing?

Thingnoun

an artifact;

how does this thing work?

Thingnoun

an event;

a funny thing happened on the way to the...

Thingnoun

a statement regarded as an object;

to say the same thing in other termshow can you say such a thing?

Thingnoun

any attribute or quality considered as having its own existence;

the thing I like about her is ...

Thingnoun

a special abstraction;

a thing of the spiritthings of the heart

Thingnoun

a vaguely specified concern;

several matters to attend toit is none of your affairthings are going well

Thingnoun

an entity that is not named specifically;

I couldn't tell what the thing was

Thingnoun

a special objective;

the thing is to stay in bounds

Thingnoun

a persistent illogical feeling of desire or aversion;

he has a thing about seafoodshe has a thing about him

Thingnoun

a separate and self-contained entity