[θɪŋ], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to
(e.g: look at that metal rail thing over there)

- an inanimate material object as distinct from a living sentient being
(e.g: I'm not a thing, not a work of art to be cherished)

- an action, event, thought, or utterance
(e.g: she said the first thing that came into her head)

- what is needed or required
(e.g: you need a tonic—and here's just the thing)

- one's special interest or inclination
(e.g: reading isn't my thing)

- used to introduce or emphasize an important point
(e.g: the thing is, I am going to sell this house)


Phrases:
- a close thing
- a thing of the past
- a thing or two
- be all things to all people
- be hearing things
- be on to a good thing
- be seeing things
- do one's own thing
- do the — thing
- do things to
- for one thing
- have a thing about
- have a thing for
- just one of those things
- make a big thing of
- of all things
- one thing after another
- one thing leads to another
- there is only one thing for it
- there's a thing
- things that go bump in the night
- — is one thing, — is another

Origin:
Old English þing, þyng, of Germanic origin; related to German Ding. Early senses included ‘meeting’ and ‘matter, concern’ as well as ‘inanimate object’