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Item definition

ītəm
items
See word origin
Frequency:
An entry in an account.
noun
13
3
A single article or unit in a collection, enumeration, or series.
noun
7
1
A clause of a document, such as a bill or charter.
noun
9
4
Also; likewise. Used to introduce each article in an enumeration or list.
adverb
5
1
An article; unit; separate thing; particular; entry in an account.

An item of clothing.

noun
5
2
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The definition of an item is an article, unit, a bit of news, or is slang for a piece of gossip.

An example of an item is a carton of milk.

An example of an item is two people who are a couple.

noun
1
0
To record, especially in an itemized list.
verb
1
1
(old-fashioned) Used before each article in a series being enumerated.
adverb
1
1
verb
1
1
A generic word for one unit or one member of a group. Similar to the word "object," when it is not relating to object-oriented programming, an item can be almost anything, including a file or folder. See data item.
1
1
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A romantically involved couple.
noun
0
0
A bit of information; a detail.
noun
0
0
A line of text having a legal or other meaning; a separate particular in an account.

The items in a bill.

In response to the first item, we deny all wrongdoing.

noun
0
0
(psychometrics) A question on a test, which may include its answers.

The exam has 100 items, each of which includes a correct response and three distractors.

noun
0
0
A matter for discussion in an agenda.

The first item for discussion is the budget for next year's picnic.

noun
0
0
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(informal) Two people who are having a relationship with each other.

Jack and Jill are an item.

noun
0
0
A short article in a newspaper.

An item concerning the weather.

noun
0
0
A short piece in a newspaper or magazine.
noun
0
1
A bit of news or information, specif. when in a newspaper.

An item of interest.

noun
0
1
(slang) A couple identified publicly as sweethearts or lovers.

John and Joan are an item.

noun
0
1
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A distinct physical object.

Tweezers are great for manipulating small items.

noun
0
1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
item
Plural:
items

Origin of item

  • From Middle English also, moreover from Latin i- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • The word started as Latin item for "also", "in the same manner", and got its present English meaning by people misunderstanding usage in lists where the first entry began "Imprimis" (Latin for "firstly"), and the other entries each started "Item" (Latin for "also"), in former times when most learned people in England knew Latin.

    From Wiktionary

Item Sentence Examples

  • If prices for an item fall, this is a net good.

  • The most important item remains the contents.

  • Four years ago, she and Dean were a weekly item, as they say.

  • It is quite consistent with the evidence to suppose that a seven-day week was in use in Babylonia, but each item may be explained differently, and a definite proof does not exist.

  • The last item on Dean's list of pleasurable activities was punching one if you want this and two if you want that buttons, then sitting on hold while listening to elevator music from some bureaucratic office.

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Also Mentioned In

Words near item in the Dictionary