- 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
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.see also UFO- 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 careful 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.
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
- …
- 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 Examplessee also sex object- 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.
- 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 targettargetobjective ▪ 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 schools
- What is the main objective of this project?
- He continued to pursue his goal of becoming an actor.
- The object is to educate people about road safety.
- 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).
- 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 Dictionaryadjective- main
- primary
- principal
- …
- lesson
- the object of the exercise
- the object of the game
- (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 Languageb1More Like This Pronunciation changes by part of speechPronunciation changes by part of speech
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.
Idioms
See object in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee object in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishmoney is no object
- 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.
Check pronunciation:
object