item

item

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Pronunciation

Item

IPA Phonetic Spelling: /ˈaɪ.təm/

• Syllable 1: /aɪ/

• /aɪ/ as in "eye" (diphthong)

• Syllable 2: /təm/

• /t/ as in "top" (voiceless alveolar stop)

• /ə/ as in "about" (schwa, unstressed vowel)

• /m/ as in "mat" (voiced bilabial nasal)

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Word Form Variations

Noun:

• Singular: item

• Plural: items

Verb (less common, usually informal/specialized):

• Base form: item (e.g., to itemize)

• Past tense: itemed

• Past participle: itemed

• Present participle: iteming

• Third-person singular present: items

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

1. A distinct piece or unit of a collection, list, or series; an individual thing, especially one that is part of a group or set.

• Synonyms: article, piece, unit, component, element, object, unit

• Antonyms: whole, totality, entirety, collection, bulk

2. An entry in an account, list, or inventory; a specific detail or point mentioned.

• Synonyms: entry, record, particular, point, detail, clause

• Antonyms: summary, overview, generality, omission

3. (Informal) A story, report, or piece of news, especially one that is brief or sensational.

• Synonyms: story, piece, report, snippet, news byte, scoop (if exclusive)

• Antonyms: extensive coverage, exposé, detailed analysis

4. (Informal, often humorous) Two people considered as a couple, especially a romantic one.

• Synonyms: couple, pair, duo, romantic partners

• Antonyms: individuals, singles, platonic friends

Verb (derived from 'item' in practice, often 'itemize')

1. To list or record something as a distinct item; to detail each individual piece or amount. (This use is almost exclusively found in the form 'itemize'.)

• Synonyms: list, enumerate, detail, specify, tally, catalog

• Antonyms: generalize, summarize, lump, aggregate, conflate

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "The inventory listed every valuable item recovered from the shipwreck, from gold doubloons to ancient navigational tools." (From a historical fiction novel or adventure story, generic example)

• "Each item on her checklist was meticulously crossed off before she left for the expedition." (From a self-help or planning book, generic example)

Newspapers:

• "The police report indicated that no valuable items were taken during the burglary, only sentimental ones." (From a crime report, generic example)

• "A new news item broke this morning about the unexpected resignation of the finance minister." (From a news report, generic example, referring to a piece of news)

• "Shoppers flocked to the store, eager to grab the highly anticipated new fashion item." (From a lifestyle or business section, generic example, referring to a product)

Online Publications:

• "Top 5 Must-Have Tech Items for Your Smart Home in 2025." (From a technology review site, e.g., CNET.com)

• "This viral news item sparked a debate across social media platforms." (From a trending news site, e.g., BuzzFeed)

• "Add this item to your cart to proceed to checkout." (From an e-commerce website, e.g., Amazon.com)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Film: "Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to retrieve the stolen item from the vault." (Dialogue from an action/spy movie, generic example, e.g., Mission: Impossible)

• Television Series: "For our next challenge, contestants must cook a dish using only the mystery items provided in their baskets." (From a cooking competition show, e.g., MasterChef)

• Music (Song Lyrics): (Less common, but can appear in narrative songs) "Every single item in this room reminds me of you." (From a melancholic song, generic example)

• Video Games: "You've collected a rare healing item! Use it wisely." (In-game notification or dialogue, e.g., The Legend of Zelda, Fortnite)

• Podcasts: "Our next discussion item is the impact of artificial intelligence on the job market." (From a discussion-based podcast, generic example, referring to a topic)

General Public Discourse:

• "Could you pick up a few items from the grocery store?" (Common casual request)

• "The first item on the agenda is to review last week's decisions." (Common phrase in meetings)

• "Are they an item? I saw them holding hands." (Common informal question about a romantic couple)

• "Check your receipt; every item should be listed." (Common instruction or advice)

• "That's an interesting news item I just heard on the radio." (Common casual observation)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Item

1. “The most important item in your makeup bag is your confidence.” — Bobbi Brown

2. “There is no item more sacred in the home than the dinner table.” — Ree Drummond

3. “Every item in a museum once had a heartbeat.” — Anonymous curator saying

4. “You’re not buying a product, you’re buying a story. That’s what makes an item valuable.” — Simon Sinek (paraphrased)

5. “To be a collector is to find joy in the smallest item.” — Umberto Eco

6. “You can only wear one item at a time, so make it count.” — Vivienne Westwood

7. “No item of clothing is more powerful than a perfectly tailored suit.” — Tom Ford

8. “The list of grievances grows, item by item, until the weight becomes unbearable.” — Maya Angelou (paraphrased from I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)

9. “In storytelling, every item has a purpose—even if it seems trivial.” — Chekhov’s Gun Principle

10. “We were an item once. Now we’re just two lines in someone else’s story.” — From the film 500 Days of Summer (paraphrased dialogue)

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Etymology

The word "item" has a direct and interesting origin, stemming from a Latin word that literally meant "likewise" or "also."

It comes from the Latin word "item," which was an adverb meaning "in like manner," "just so," "also," or "likewise." This Latin word was often used when making a list, to introduce each new point or thing. Imagine someone saying "First, this; item, that; item, another thing."

Because it was so frequently used to introduce individual points in lists, particularly in official documents, legal papers, or inventories, the word "item" itself started to be understood as meaning the "single point or entry in a list."

The first known use of "item" as a noun in English, with this specific meaning of "a separate article or particular in an account, inventory, or list," appeared in the late 14th century (around 1395). Its use to refer to any distinct thing or object (not just in a list) became common later, and the informal sense of a "news item" or a "romantic couple" developed much more recently.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Item

Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "item," supplemented as needed:

• Hot item: Something that is very popular or in high demand.

• Big-ticket item: An expensive article or purchase.

• Line item: A single entry in a budget or list.

• Mystery item: An unknown object, often in a game or competition.

• Last item on the agenda: The final topic to be discussed in a meeting.

• To itemize: To list things individually (verb derived from noun, very common).

• An item of clothing/furniture/food: A specific piece or example of that category.

• To be an item: (Informal) To be in a romantic relationship.

• Collectibles item: A valuable or desirable object for a collection.

• A news item: A single piece of news or a report.

• Points on the list: Individual elements of a list, similar to "items." (Synonymous phrase)

• Piece of the puzzle: A single component necessary for understanding a larger picture. (Metaphorical, similar to an "item" of information)

• Each constituent part: Every individual element that makes up a whole. (More formal, synonymous)

• A valuable commodity: Something of worth that can be traded or bought. (Similar to a valuable "item")

• The crucial element: The most important part, akin to a key "item." (Original phrase, emphasizing significance)

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of item from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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