TOP

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

item

noun
 OPAL W
 
/ˈaɪtəm/
 
/ˈaɪtəm/
Idioms
jump to other results
  1.  
     one thing on a list of things to buy, do, talk about, etc.
    • What's the next item on the agenda?
    • There are plenty of vegetarian items on the menu.
    • She still has five items on her to-do list.
    • Students had to select three topics from the list of items.
    • There is a maximum score of two points per test item.
    see also line item
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • individual
    • particular
    • single
    • …
    preposition
    • item of
    • item about
    • item on
    • …
    phrases
    • item by item
    • an item on the agenda, list, menu, etc.
    See full entry
  2.  
     a single object or thing
    • Can I pay for each item separately?
    • The price of many basic food items continues to rise.
    • household items such as brushes and bedclothes
    • item of something A windproof jacket is an essential item of clothing for hillwalking.
    • Are there any items of furniture you want to take with you?
    • The computer was my largest single item of expenditure.
    • This clock is a collector's item (= because it is rare and valuable).
    see also collector’s item
    Extra Examples
    • Each individual item has a number.
    • Several valuable items were stolen.
    • There is a higher tax on luxury items.
    Topics Shoppinga2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • individual
    • particular
    • single
    • …
    preposition
    • item of
    • item about
    • item on
    • …
    phrases
    • item by item
    • an item on the agenda, list, menu, etc.
    See full entry
  3.  
     a single piece of news in a newspaper, on television, online, etc.
    • The following news item may be of interest to you.
    • I heard an item on the radio about a new cancer treatment.
    • I came across two items of disturbing news.
    • The Journal is packed with items of interest from cover to cover.
    Extra Examples
    • The programme featured an item on clothes for young children.
    • a news item about wildfires in California
    Topics TV, radio and newsb1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • individual
    • particular
    • single
    • …
    preposition
    • item of
    • item about
    • item on
    • …
    phrases
    • item by item
    • an item on the agenda, list, menu, etc.
    See full entry
    4. Word Originlate Middle English (as an adverb): from Latin, ‘in like manner, also’. The noun sense arose (late 16th cent.) from the use of the adverb to introduce each statement in a list.
Idioms
be an item
  1. (informal) to be involved in a romantic or sexual relationship
    • Are they an item?
See item in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee item in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
Check pronunciation: item

Nearby words

previously
adverb
 
 
From the Word list
Oxford 3000
B1
Oxford Learner's Dictionaries Word of the Day