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| n. 1. A specific, individual, material entity, especially one that is not living or not sentient. 2. a. A focus of attention, feeling, thought, or action: a product that was so bad it became an object of derision. b. A limiting factor that must be considered: Since money is no object, let's eat at that fancy place. 3. The purpose, aim, or goal of a specific action or effort: the object of the game. See Synonyms at intention. 4. Grammar a. A noun, pronoun, or noun phrase that receives or is affected by the action of a verb within a sentence. b. A noun or substantive governed by a preposition and typically following it. 5. Philosophy Something intelligible to or perceptible by the mind. 6. Computers a. A discrete item than can be selected and maneuvered, such as an onscreen graphic. b. In object-oriented programming, a structure that combines data and the procedures necessary to operate on that data. v. (əb-jĕkt) ob·ject·ed, ob·ject·ing, ob·jects v. intr. 1. To present a dissenting or opposing argument; raise an objection: objected to the testimony of the witness. 2. To be averse to or express disapproval of something: objects to modern materialism. v. tr. To put forward in or as a reason for opposition; offer as criticism: They objected that discipline was lacking. [Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin obiectum, thing put before the mind, from neuter past participle of Latin obicere, to put before, hinder : ob-, before, toward; see OB- + iacere, to throw; see yē- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots. V., from Middle English obiecten, from Old French objecter, from Latin obiectāre, frequentative of obicere.] ob·jector n. Synonyms: object, protest, demur, remonstrate, expostulate These verbs mean to express opposition to something, usually by presenting arguments against it. Object implies the expression of disapproval or distaste: “I took some criticism from Democrats who objected to the tax cut or to the fact that we were making the agreement at all” (Bill Clinton). Protest suggests strong opposition, usually forthrightly expressed: The manager protested the umpire's decision. To demur is to raise an objection that may delay decision or action: We proposed a revote, but the president demurred. Remonstrate implies the presentation of objections, complaints, or reproof: “The people of Connecticut ... remonstrated against the bill” (George Bancroft). To expostulate is to express objection in the form of earnest reasoning: The teacher expostulated with them on the foolhardiness of their behavior. See Also Synonyms at intention. |
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