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.
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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.
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7. (Ontology) Anything which exists and which has attributes;
distinguished from attributes, processes, and
relations.
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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.
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