Item

Pronunciation

Origin

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 "In primis" (Latin for "firstly"), and the other entries each started "Item" (Latin for "also"), in former times when most learned people in England knew Latin.

Full definition of item

Noun

1. A distinct physical object.
   Tweezers are great for manipulating small items.

1. 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.
2. (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.
3. A matter for discussion in an agenda.
   The first item for discussion is the budget for next year's picnic.
4. (informal) Two people who are having a relationship with each other.
   Jack and Jill are an item.
• 2010, Justin Bieber featuring Ludacris, ''Baby (Justin Bieber song)Are we an item? Girl, quit playin'
  "We're just friends," what are you sayin'?
5. A short article in a newspaper.
   an item concerning the weather
6. (obsolete) A hint; an innuendo.
• Henry Blake Fuller (1857-1929)A secret item was given to some of the bishops ... to absent themselves.

Synonyms

• (object) article, object, thing
• (line of text having a legal or semantic meaning)
• (matter for discussion) subject, topic
• (two people who are having a relationship with each other) couple
• (psychometrics) test/assessment question

Derived terms

• subitem
• itemize
• polarity item
• negative polarity item
• positive polarity item

Anagrams

• emit, mite, time