- 1 a thing that can be seen and touched, but is not alive everyday objects such as cups and saucers Glass and plastic objects lined the shelves. Vocabulary BuildingObjects 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. A device is something that has been designed to do a particular job:There is a new device for cars that warns drivers of traffic jams ahead. A gadget is a small object that does something useful, but is not really necessary:His kitchen is full of gadgets he never uses. An instrument is used especially for delicate or scientific work:‘What do you call the instrument that measures temperature?’ ‘A thermometer.’ A tool is something that you use for making and repairing things:‘Have you got one of those tools for turning screws?’ ‘Do you mean a screwdriver?’ A machine has moving parts and is used for a particular job. It usually stands on its own:‘What’s a blender?’ ‘It’s an electric machine for mixing soft food or liquid.’ An appliance is a large machine that you use in the house, such as a washing machine. Equipment means all the things you need for a particular activity:climbing equipment. Apparatus means all the tools, machines or equipment that you need for something:firefighters wearing breathing apparatus. see also UFO Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveinanimate, solid, three-dimensional, … See full entry
- 2object of desire, study, attention, etc. a person or thing that somebody desires, studies, pays attention to, etc. 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. If you're late, you'll defeat the whole object of the exercise. Synonymstargetobjective goal object endThese are all words for something that you are trying to achieve.target a result that you try to achieve:Set yourself targets that you can reasonably hope to achieve. attainment targets in schoolsobjective (rather formal) something that you are trying to achieve:What is the main objective of this project?goal something that you hope to achieve:He continued to pursue his goal of becoming an actor.target, objective or goal?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. People often set their own objectives: these are things that they wish to achieve, often as part of a project or a talk they are giving. Goals are often long-term, and relate to people’s life and career plans or the long-term plans of a company or organization.object the purpose of something; something that you plan to achieve:The object is to educate people about road safety.end something that you plan to achieve: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). End is usually used in the plural or in particular fixed expressions.Patterns to work towards a(n) target/objective/goal a(n) ambitious/major/long-term/short-term/future target/objective/goal economic/financial/business targets/objectives/goals to set/agree on/identify/reach/meet/exceed a(n) target/objective/goal to achieve a(n) target/objective/goal/end Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivemain, primary, principal, … object + nounlesson phrasesthe 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 subject More Like This Pronunciation changes by part of speech abuse, alternate, advocate, approximate, contract, converse, convict, decrease, delegate, discount, duplicate, estimate, export, extract, graduate, import, intimate, moderate, object, permit, present, protest, record, refund, refuse, subject, suspect, survey, torment, upgradeSee worksheet. 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.Extra examples Her paintings are of ordinary everyday objects. It would defeat the object of the exercise if we paid someone to do it for us. My sole object is to get to the bottom of this mystery. The object of the exercise is to score as many points as possible. The plans are an object lesson in how to ruin a city centre. people who claim to have found foreign objects in cans Furniture and other household objects were piled up outside the house. He uses everyday objects to teach basic scientific principles to the kids. The whole object of the exercise is to get people to listen to each other. This looks a very unusual object. What is it exactly?Idioms
used to say that you are willing to spend a lot of money He always travels first class—expense is no object.
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