Object

object
    n 1: a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a
         shadow; "it was full of rackets, balls and other objects"
         [syn: {object}, {physical object}]
    2: the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to be
       attainable); "the sole object of her trip was to see her
       children" [syn: {aim}, {object}, {objective}, {target}]
    3: (grammar) a constituent that is acted upon; "the object of
       the verb"
    4: the focus of cognitions or feelings; "objects of thought";
       "the object of my affection"
    5: (computing) a discrete item that provides a description of
       virtually anything known to a computer; "in object-oriented
       programming, objects include data and define its status, its
       methods of operation and how it interacts with other objects"
    v 1: express or raise an objection or protest or criticism or
         express dissent; "She never objected to the amount of work
         her boss charged her with"; "When asked to drive the truck,
         she objected that she did not have a driver's license"
    2: be averse to or express disapproval of; "My wife objects to
       modern furniture"
    

Object \Ob*ject"\, v. i.
   To make opposition in words or argument; to express one's
   displeasure; -- usually followed by to; as, she objected to
   his vulgar language. --Sir. T. More.
   [1913 Webster +PJC]
    

Object \Ob"ject\ ([o^]b"j[e^]kt), n. [L. objectus. See {Object},
   v. t.]
   1. That which is put, or which may be regarded as put, in the
      way of some of the senses; something visible or tangible
      and persists for an appreciable time; as, he observed an
      object in the distance; all the objects in sight; he
      touched a strange object in the dark.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Anything which is set, or which may be regarded as set,
      before the mind so as to be apprehended or known; that of
      which the mind by any of its activities takes cognizance,
      whether a thing external in space or a conception formed
      by the mind itself; as, an object of knowledge, wonder,
      fear, thought, study, etc.
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            Object is a term for that about which the knowing
            subject is conversant; what the schoolmen have
            styled the "materia circa quam."      --Sir. W.
                                                  Hamilton.
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            The object of their bitterest hatred. --Macaulay.
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   3. That toward which the mind, or any of its activities, is
      directed; that on which the purpose are fixed as the end
      of action or effort; that which is sought for; goal; end;
      aim; motive; final cause.
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            Object, beside its proper signification, came to be
            abusively applied to denote motive, end, final cause
            . . . . This innovation was probably borrowed from
            the French.                           --Sir. W.
                                                  Hamilton.
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            Let our object be, our country, our whole country,
            and nothing but our country.          --D. Webster.
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   4. Sight; show; appearance; aspect. [Obs.] --Shak.
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            He, advancing close
            Up to the lake, past all the rest, arose
            In glorious object.                   --Chapman.
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   5. (Gram.) A word, phrase, or clause toward which an action
      is directed, or is considered to be directed; as, the
      object of a transitive verb.
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   6. (Computers) Any set of data that is or can be manipulated
      or referenced by a computer program as a single entity; --
      the term may be used broadly, to include files, images
      (such as icons on the screen), or small data structures.
      More narrowly, anything defined as an object within an
      object-oriented programming language.
      [PJC]

   7. (Ontology) Anything which exists and which has attributes;
      distinguished from {attributes}, {processes}, and
      {relations}.
      [PJC]

   {Object glass}, the lens, or system of lenses, placed at the
      end of a telescope, microscope, etc., which is toward the
      object. Its function is to form an image of the object,
      which is then viewed by the eyepiece. Called also
      {objective} or {objective lens}. See Illust. of
      {Microscope}.

   {Object lesson}, a lesson in which object teaching is made
      use of.

   {Object staff}. (Leveling) Same as {Leveling staff}.

   {Object teaching}, a method of instruction, in which
      illustrative objects are employed, each new word or idea
      being accompanied by a representation of that which it
      signifies; -- used especially in the kindergarten, for
      young children.
      [1913 Webster]
    

Object \Ob*ject"\ ([o^]b*j[e^]kt"), v. t. [imp. & p. p.
   {Objected}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Objecting}.] [L. objectus, p. p.
   of objicere, obicere, to throw or put before, to oppose; ob
   (see {Ob-}) + jacere to throw: cf. objecter. See {Jet} a
   shooting forth.]
   1. To set before or against; to bring into opposition; to
      oppose. [Obs.]
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            Of less account some knight thereto object,
            Whose loss so great and harmful can not prove.
                                                  --Fairfax.
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            Some strong impediment or other objecting itself.
                                                  --Hooker.
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            Pallas to their eyes
            The mist objected, and condensed the skies. --Pope.
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   2. To offer in opposition as a criminal charge or by way of
      accusation or reproach; to adduce as an objection or
      adverse reason.
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            He gave to him to object his heinous crime.
                                                  --Spencer.
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            Others object the poverty of the nation. --Addison.
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            The book . . . giveth liberty to object any crime
            against such as are to be ordered.    --Whitgift.
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Object \Ob*ject"\, a. [L. objectus, p. p.]
   Opposed; presented in opposition; also, exposed. [Obs.]
   [1913 Webster]
    

object

   <object-oriented> In {object-oriented programming}, an
   instance of the data structure and behaviour defined by the
   object's {class}.  Each object has its own values for the
   {instance variables} of its class and can respond to the
   {methods} defined by its class.

   For example, an object of the "Point" class might have
   instance variables "x" and "y" and might respond to the "plot"
   method by drawing a dot on the screen at those coordinates.

   (2004-01-26)
    

250 Moby Thesaurus words for "object":
      IC analysis, affair, agree to disagree, aim, an existence,
      appositive, article, artifact, attribute, attributive, balk, ban,
      be against, be at cross-purposes, beef, being, bitch, blackball,
      body, boggle, boycott, break, break off, bulk, butt, by-end,
      by-purpose, call in question, categorically reject, challenge,
      clash, collide, complain, complain loudly, complement, conflict,
      confront, construction modifier, contend with, contradict, counter,
      creature, criticize, critter, cry out against, cutting,
      deep structure, demonstrate, demonstrate against, demur, deprecate,
      design, destination, differ, dingus, direct object, disaccord,
      disagree, disallow, disapprove, disapprove of, discommend,
      disfavor, dispute, dissent, dissent from, dofunny, dohickey,
      dojigger, dojiggy, domajig, domajigger, doodad, dowhacky, duty,
      end, end in view, entelechy, enter a protest, entity, eppes, etwas,
      except, exclude, expostulate, face down, face out, face up to,
      fact, filler, final cause, flumadiddle, focus, form-function unit,
      front, frown, frown at, frown down, frown upon, function, gadget,
      game, gigamaree, gimmick, gizmo, goal, grimace at, hickey, holler,
      hootenanny, hootmalalie, howl, idea,
      immediate constituent analysis, indirect object, individual,
      intent, intention, interfere with, inveigh against, item, jangle,
      jar, jib, jigger, jostle, kick, kick against, levels, life,
      look askance at, look black upon, make a stand, march, mark, mass,
      material, material thing, matter, meet head-on, mismatch, mismate,
      modifier, monad, negate, not approve, not go for, not hear of,
      not hold with, object in mind, object to, objective,
      offer resistance, oppose, organism, ostracize, person, persona,
      personality, phenomenon, phrase structure, picket, plan, predicate,
      press objections, prey, protest, protest against, purpose, pursuit,
      qualifier, quarry, quelque chose, quintain, rail, raise a howl,
      rally, ranks, rant, rave, reality, reason, reason for being,
      recalcitrate, refuse, reject, reluct, remonstrate, revolt,
      say no to, scruple, shallow structure, show fight, sit in, slot,
      slot and filler, something, soul, spurn, squawk, stand,
      stand at bay, stand up against, stand up to, state a grievance,
      stickle, storm, strata, strike, strive against, structure, stuff,
      subject, substance, surface structure, syntactic analysis,
      syntactic structure, syntactics, syntax, tagmeme,
      take exception to, tangible, target, teach in, teleology, thing,
      thingum, thingumabob, thingumadad, thingumadoodle, thingumajig,
      thingumajigger, thingumaree, thingummy, think ill of,
      think little of, thumb down, ultimate aim, underlying structure,
      unit, use, vary, view with disfavor, volume, whatchy, widget,
      withstand, word arrangement, word order, yell bloody murder