Objects

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɒbd͡ʒɛkts/

Definitions

1. Entities that can be seen or touched, often with specific features and functions
2. Things that have material form, which can be utilized or observed for various reasons
3. Items that exist in the physical world and can be perceived by sight or touch

Etymology: "Objects" is the plural of "object," so its history is that of the singular noun, which came into English from Medieval Latin "obiectum," literally "something thrown or placed before," from the verb "obicere," to throw in the way. The Latin sense was tied to the physical act of setting something in front of a person, and the meaning drifted toward things that can be seen or touched through the idea of something presented to the senses. Over time, the word broadened. Philosophers and logicians used it for whatever the mind is directed toward, which is why an object can now be a thing in the room or an aim someone is working toward. The plural "objects" keeps the concrete sense most clearly, referring to the tangible things around us, while the singular has gathered the more abstract uses.

Synonyms: items, things, articles, products, goods

Antonyms: subjects, ideas, concepts, thoughts, theories