item

American  

[ahy-tuhm, ahy-tem] / ˈaɪ təm, ˈaɪ tɛm /

noun

1. a separate article or particular.

   50 items on the list.

   Synonyms:

   entry, heading, thing

2. a separate piece of information or news, as a short piece in a newspaper or broadcast.

3. Slang. something suitable for a news paragraph or as a topic of gossip, especially something that is sensational or scandalous.

   The bandleader and the new female singer are an item.

4. a word formerly used in communications to represent the letter I.

5. an admonition or warning.

6. Older Use. an intimation or hint.

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adverb

1. also; likewise (used especially to introduce each article or statement in a list or series).

verb (used with object)

Archaic.

1. to set down or enter as an item, or by or in items.

2. to make a note of.

item British  

noun

1. a thing or unit, esp included in a list or collection

2. accounting an entry in an account

3. a piece of information, detail, or note

   a news item

4. informal two people having a romantic or sexual relationship

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verb

1. (tr) an archaic word for itemize

adverb

1. likewise; also

Other Word Forms

• subitem noun

Etymology

Origin of item

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English: “likewise” (adverb), “the same” (noun), from Latin: “likewise”

Example Sentences

Her handbags and pink pens have become unlikely zeitgeist items.

From BBC

Establishments that sell only a few items—say, food trucks and burger joints—have little room to absorb those higher prices, so they’re more likely to have to pass them on to the consumer.

From The Wall Street Journal

The app delivers groceries and retail items in addition to restaurant fare.

From MarketWatch

Every week, the first item in Michael Hartnett’s Flow Show report has a proprietary dashboard for trading sentiment on a scale from zero to ten: the Bull & Bear indicator.

From MarketWatch

But excluding nonrecurring items, such as restructuring charges and litigation expenses, adjusted net income was $37 million, and earnings per share were 9 cents.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• component
• element
• feature
• information
• piece
• thing