item
/ˈaɪ.təm/ noun, verb, adverb
Forms items iteming itemed
- noun A distinct physical object. “Tweezers are great for manipulating small items.”
- noun (by extension, video games) An object that can be picked up for later use.
- noun A line of text having a legal or other meaning; a separate particular in an account. “the items in a bill”
- noun (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 A matter for discussion in an agenda. “The first item for discussion is the budget for next year's picnic.”
- noun (informal) Two people who are having a romantic or sexual relationship with each other. “Jack and Jill are an item.”
- noun A short article in a newspaper. “an item concerning the weather”
- noun (obsolete) A hint; an innuendo.
- verb (transitive) To make a note of.
- adverb likewise
- noun (World War II era, joint US/RAF) radiotelephony clear-code word for the letter I.
Synonyms
subject topic couple test assessment question article object thing India point detail particular token
Etymology
From Middle English item, from Latin item (“also; in the same manner”). The present English meaning derives from a usage in lists, where the first entry would begin in primis (“firstly”) or imprimis, and the other entries with item (“also, moreover”). Later, the members of lists were referred to as "items".
Webster’s 1913
- adverb Also; as an additional article.
- noun An article; a separate particular in an account; as, the items in a bill.
- noun A hint; an innuendo. [Obs.]
- verb To make a note or memorandum of. I have itemed it in my memory. Addison.
Etymology [L. See Iterate.]
Etymology [From Item, adv.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “item”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details