item
- 01 A2 Elementary
a single thing or object, especially one that is part of a group or collection.
a distinct physical object or unit within a larger set or collection.
Simple“The cashier scanned every item in the shopping basket one by one.”
In context“The museum curator carefully catalogued each item recovered from the site, ensuring that even the smallest fragments were documented.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
one single part of a list, like a task or a point in a meeting.
a separate piece of information or a specific entry in a list, account, or agenda.
Simple“The last item on the meeting agenda is the budget for next year.”
In context“The auditor flagged several items in the financial report that required further clarification from the management team.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
two people who are in a romantic relationship.
two individuals involved in an established romantic or sexual relationship.
Simple“Everyone was surprised to hear that Sarah and Tom are finally an item.”
In context“The tabloids spent weeks speculating whether the two co-stars were actually an item before the couple finally went public.”
- 04 C1 Advanced
a single question or task on an exam or in a survey.
a specific question or task within a standardised test or psychological assessment.
Simple“The teacher removed a confusing item from the final exam.”
In context“The researchers conducted a statistical analysis to determine which test items were most effective at measuring the students' analytical skills.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
a short piece of news in a newspaper or on a website.
a brief piece of news or a short article in a periodical.
Simple“There was a small item in the local paper about the school play.”
In context“The morning broadcast included a brief news item regarding the recent changes to international trade regulations.”
Usage additional item · comprise item · following item
From Middle English item, from Latin item (“also; in the same manner”). The present English meaning derives from a usage in lists, where the first entry would begin in primis (“firstly”) or imprimis, and the other entries with item (“also, moreover”). Later, the members of lists were referred to as "items".
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.