object

The word “object” means a physical thing that can be seen or touched. In plain terms, as a noun, a physical thing or a goal; as a verb (stress on the second syllable), to protest against something.

“Object” is pronounced OB-jehkt (/ˈɑb.d͡ʒɛkt/ in IPA).

Here is “object” used in a sentence: “She placed a small metal object on the table.”

Words with a similar meaning to “object” include target, demur, except and take exception.

Depending on how it is used, “object” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “object” comes from Medieval Latin. From Medieval Latin obiectum, literally "thrown against," from Latin obicere ("to throw in the way of"), from ob- + iacere ("to throw").

“Object” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

“Object” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a physical thing that can be seen or touched.

"Thing" is the broadest, vaguest word — it can mean an idea, event, or feeling as well as a physical item. "Object" is more specific: a physical item you can see or touch, with a definite shape or form. Every object is a thing, but many things, like happiness or a plan, are not objects.

They are spelled the same but stressed differently. The noun "OB-ject" (stress first) means a physical thing. The verb "ob-JECT" (stress second) means to disagree or protest: "I object to that decision." This kind of word, changing meaning with its stress, is called a heteronym.

Anything solid you can see and handle qualifies — a cup, a phone, a chair, a rock, a book. Larger physical things like cars and buildings are objects too, as are natural ones such as stones or shells. If it has a physical form you can point to, it is an object.