object

noun

OPAL WOPAL S

/ˈɒbdʒɪkt/, /ˈɒbdʒekt/

/ˈɑːbdʒɪkt/, /ˈɑːbdʒekt/

Idioms

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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 use
Objects 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 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.
see also UFO
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 Dictionary
adjective
- inanimate
- solid
- three-dimensional
- …
See full entry
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
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 target
target
- objective
- goal
- object
- end
These 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
- objective (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
adjective
- main
- primary
- principal
- …
object + noun
- lesson
phrases
- the object of the exercise
- the object of the game
See full entry
(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 speech
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
- upgrade

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.

object

verb

/əbˈdʒekt/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they object	/əbˈdʒekt/ /əbˈdʒekt/
he / she / it objects	/əbˈdʒekts/ /əbˈdʒekts/
past simple objected	/əbˈdʒektɪd/ /əbˈdʒektɪd/
past participle objected	/əbˈdʒektɪd/ /əbˈdʒektɪd/
-ing form objecting	/əbˈdʒektɪŋ/ /əbˈdʒektɪŋ/

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[intransitive] to say that you disagree with or oppose something
- If nobody objects, we'll postpone the meeting till next week.
- object to somebody/something Members of the council strongly objected to plans to sell off the land.
- Many local people object to the building of the new airport.
- object to doing something I really object to being charged for parking.
- object to somebody doing something Who could object to people having fun?
Extra Examples
- I objected on the grounds that it was unkind to the animals.
- It was your own idea in the first place, so you can hardly object now.
- The tribes object to plans to widen the highway to four lanes.
Topics Opinion and argumentb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- strenuously
- strongly
- vehemently
- …
verb + object
- can hardly
- be entitled to
- have a/the right to
- …
preposition
- to
phrases
- object on the grounds that…
See full entry
[transitive] to give something as a reason for opposing something synonym protest
- object that… He objected that the police had arrested him without sufficient evidence.
- + speech ‘But that's not fair!’ she objected.

Synonyms complaincomplain

protest
object
grumble
moan
whine

These words all mean to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about somebody/something.

complain
to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about somebody/something:
- I’m going to complain to the manager about this.
protest
to say or do something to show that you disagree with something or think it is bad, especially publicly; to give something as a reason for protesting:
- Students took to the streets to protest against the decision.
object
to say that you disagree with something or think it is bad; to give something as a reason for objecting:
- If nobody objects, we’ll postpone the meeting till next week.
- He objected that the police had arrested him without sufficient evidence.
grumble
(rather informal, disapproving) to complain about somebody/something, especially something that is not really very serious:
- They kept grumbling that they were cold.
moan
(British English, rather informal, disapproving) to complain about somebody/something in an annoying way:
- What are you moaning about now?
whine
(rather informal, disapproving) to complain in an annoying, crying voice:
- Stop whining!
- ‘I want to go home,’ whined Toby.
Whine is often used to talk about the way that young children complain.

Patterns

to complain/protest/grumble/moan/whine about something
to complain/protest/grumble/moan at something
to complain/protest/object/grumble/moan/whine to somebody
to complain/protest/object/grumble/moan/whine that…

More Like This Pronunciation changes by part of speechPronunciation 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
upgrade