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Definition of object noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

object

noun
 OPAL WOPAL S
 
/ˈɒbdʒɪkt/,
 
/ˈɒbdʒekt/
 
/ˈɑːbdʒɪkt/,
 
/ˈɑːbdʒekt/
Idioms
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  1.  
     a thing that can be seen and touched, but is not alive
    • everyday objects such as cups and saucers
    • inanimate objects (= things that are not alive)
    • a physical/material object (= that you can see and touch)
    • The scanner detected a metal object.
    • We now know that solid objects are largely made up of empty space.
    • art objects from the ancient world
    see also UFO
    Vocabulary Building Objects you can useObjects you can useIt is useful to know some general words to help you describe objects, especially if you do not know the name of a particular object.
    • apparatus
      • The firefighters were wearing breathing apparatus.
    • appliance
      • We had new kitchen appliances installed after we moved in.
    • device
      • Police seized all his electronic devices, including his laptop and phone.
    • equipment
      • We also stock a wide range of climbing equipment.
    • gadget
      • His kitchen is full of gadgets he never uses.
    • instrument
      • Serious infections can occur if surgical instruments are not properly sterilized.
    • machine
      • You could hurt yourself if you attempt to operate the machine without proper training.
    • tool
      • The furniture is made by craftsmen using traditional tools.
    Extra Examples
    • Furniture and other household objects were piled up outside the house.
    • This looks a very unusual object. What is it exactly?
    • He looked down at the drumsticks as if turning to inanimate objects for emotional support.
    • The internet cannot replace the thrill of holding the physical object of a book in your hands.
    • Glass and plastic objects lined the shelves.
    • books, paintings, sculpture and other precious objects
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • inanimate
    • solid
    • three-dimensional
    • …
    See full entry
  2. object of desire, study, attention, etc. a person or thing that somebody desires, studies, pays attention to, etc.
    • He felt he was nothing more to her than an object of desire.
    • Her objects of study are all paintings.
    • an object of affection/ridicule/worship
    Extra Examples
    • The Rolls Royce was an object of desire, and I desired one.
    • Such a product aims to become an object of desire.
    • The strange creature became the object of much curiosity.
    see also sex object
  3.  
     an aim or a purpose
    • Her sole object in life is to become a travel writer.
    • The object is to educate people about road safety.
    • The object of the game is to score points by combining cards.
    • If you're late, you'll defeat the whole object of the exercise.
    • with the object of doing something He put together an army with the object of taking back the lost territory.
    Synonyms targettargetgoal ▪ objective ▪ object ▪ endThese are all words for something that you are trying to achieve.target
    • Set yourself targets that you can reasonably hope to achieve.
    • attainment targets in schools
    goal
    • He continued to pursue his goal of becoming an actor.
    objective (rather formal)
    • What is the main objective of this project?
    object
    • The object is to educate people about road safety.
    end
    • He joined the society for political ends.
    • That’s only OK if you believe that the end justifies the means (= bad methods of doing something are acceptable if the final result is good).
    Which word?A target is usually officially recorded in some way, for example by an employer or by a government committee. It is often specific, and in the form of figures, such as number of sales or exam passes, or a date. Goals are often long-term, and relate to people’s life and career plans or the long-term plans of a company or organization. People often set their own objectives: these are things that they wish to achieve, often as part of a project. Object can refer to the reason for doing something as well as the thing you want to achieve. End is usually used in the plural or in particular fixed expressions to refer to something you are planning to achieve.Patterns
    • to work towards a(n) target/​goal/​objective
    • a(n) ambitious/​major/​long-term/​short-term/​future target/​goal/​objective
    • economic/​financial/​business targets/​goals/​objectives
    • to set/​agree on/​identify/​reach/​meet/​exceed a(n) target/​goal/​objective
    • to achieve a(n) target/​goal/​objective/​end
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • main
    • primary
    • principal
    • …
    object + noun
    • lesson
    phrases
    • the object of the exercise
    • the object of the game
    See full entry
  4. (grammar) a noun, noun phrase or pronoun that refers to a person or thing that is affected by the action of the verb (called the direct object), or that the action is done to or for (called the indirect object) compare subjectTopics Languageb1
    More Like This Pronunciation changes by part of speechPronunciation changes by part of speech
    5. Word Originlate Middle English: from medieval Latin objectum ‘thing presented to the mind’, neuter past participle (used as a noun) of Latin obicere, from ob- ‘in the way of’ + jacere ‘to throw’; the verb may also partly represent the Latin frequentative objectare.
see also learning object
Idioms
money is no object
  1. money is not something that needs to be considered, because there is plenty of it available
    • She travels around the world as if money is no object.
See object in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee object in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: object

Nearby words

denote
verb
 
 
From the Word list
OPAL written words
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