(thing) noun
1. That which exists or is conceived to exist as a separate entity; an entity; being.
2. That which is designated, as contrasted with the word or symbol used to denote it.
3. A matter or circumstance; an affair; concern: Things have changed.
4. An act or deed; transaction: That was a shameless thing to do.
5. A statement or expression; utterance: to say the right thing.
6. An idea; opinion; notion: Stop putting things in her head.
7. A quality; attribute; characteristic: Kindness is a precious thing.
8. An inanimate object, as distinguished from a living organism.
9. An organic being: usually with a qualifying word: Every living thing dies.
10. An object that is not or cannot be described or particularized: The thing disappeared in the shadows.
11. A person, regarded in terms of pity, affection, or contempt: that poor thing; You stupid thing!
12. plural Possessions; belongings: to pack one's things.
13. plural Clothes; especially, outer garments: Take off your things and stay awhile.
14. A piece of literature, art, music, etc.: He read a few things by Byron.
15. The proper or befitting act or result: with the: That was not the thing to do.
16. The important or remarkable point: with the: The thing we learned from the war was this.
17. Law A subject or property or dominion, as distinguished from a person.
—to do one's (own) thing Slang To express oneself by doing what one wants to do or can do well or is in the habit of doing.
—to see things To have hallucinations. [OE, thing, cause, assembly. Akin to THING².]

(ting) noun
A Scandinavian legislative or judicial body: the Storthing, the Norwegian parliament: also spelled ting. [<ON, assembly. Akin to THING¹.]