Matter vs. Thing — What's the Difference?

In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are ultimately composed of atoms, which are made up of interacting subatomic particles, and in everyday as well as scientific usage, "matter" generally includes atoms and anything made up of them, and any particles (or combination of particles) that act as if they have both rest mass and volume.

An object or entity that is not or cannot be named specifically

Physical substance in general, as distinct from mind and spirit; (in physics) that which occupies space and possesses rest mass, especially as distinct from energy

An individual object, especially an inanimate object

A subject or situation under consideration

A creature

The reason for distress or a problem

An entity or item

The substance or content of a text as distinct from its style or form.

Something referred to by a word, symbol, sign, or idea; a referent.

Be important or significant

Things Articles of clothing

(of a wound) secrete or discharge pus.

Things Possessions, including clothing; belongings

That which occupies space and has mass; physical substance.

Often things(Law) That which can be possessed or owned

A type of such substance

Things The equipment needed for an activity or a special purpose.

Discharge or waste, such as pus or feces, from a living organism.

An act, deed, or work

(Philosophy) In Aristotelian and Scholastic use, that which is in itself undifferentiated and formless and which, as the subject of change and development, receives form and becomes substance.

The result of work or activity

The substance of thought or expression as opposed to the manner in which it is stated or conveyed.

A means to an end

A subject of concern, feeling, or action

A thought, notion, or utterance

Trouble or difficulty

A piece of information

An approximated quantity, amount, or extent

An end or objective

Something printed or otherwise set down in writing

A matter of concern

To be of importance

A turn of events; a circumstance

(uncountable) Material; substance.

A particular state of affairs; a situation

(physics) The basic structural component of the universe, usually having mass and volume.

Things The general state of affairs; conditions

(physics) Matter made up of normal particles, not antiparticles.

(Informal) The latest fad or fashion

A kind of substance.

(Informal) A persistent feeling, interest, desire, or aversion

Material, especially in books or magazines.

(Slang) An activity uniquely suitable and satisfying to one

(philosophy) Aristotelian: undeveloped potentiality subject to change and development; formlessness. Matter receives form, and becomes substance.

(Informal) Used to refer to something with disapproval or contempt

An affair, condition, or subject, especially one of concern or (especially when preceded by the) one that is problematic.

That which is considered to exist as a separate entity, object, quality or concept.

An approximate amount or extent.

A word, symbol, sign, or other referent that can be used to refer to any entity.

(obsolete) essence; pith; embodiment.

An individual object or distinct entity.

(obsolete) (The) inducing cause or reason, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing.

(legal)

To be important.

Whatever can be owned.

To care about, to mind; to find important.

Corporeal object.

To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate.

The latest fad or fashion.

That of which anything is composed; constituent substance; material; the material or substantial part of anything; the constituent elements of conception; that into which a notion may be analyzed; the essence; the pith; the embodiment.

(in the plural) Clothes, possessions or equipment.

That of which the sensible universe and all existent bodies are composed; anything which has extension, occupies space, or is perceptible by the senses; body; substance.

(informal) A unit or container, usually containing edible goods.

That with regard to, or about which, anything takes place or is done; the thing aimed at, treated of, or treated; subject of action, discussion, consideration, feeling, complaint, legal action, or the like; theme.

(informal) A problem, dilemma, or complicating factor.

That which one has to treat, or with which one has to do; concern; affair; business.

(slang) A penis.

Affair worthy of account; thing of consequence; importance; significance; moment; - chiefly in the phrases what matter? no matter, and the like.

A living being or creature.

Inducing cause or occasion, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing; difficulty; trouble.

That which matters; the crux.

Amount; quantity; portion; space; - often indefinite.

Used after a noun to refer dismissively to the situation surrounding the noun's referent.

Substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess; pus; purulent substance.

(informal) That which is favoured; personal preference. (Used in possessive constructions.)

That which is permanent, or is supposed to be given, and in or upon which changes are effected by psychological or physical processes and relations; - opposed to form.

(informal, with do) One's typical routine, habits, or manner. (Used in possessive constructions.)

Written manuscript, or anything to be set in type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be used, or which has been used, in printing.

A public assembly or judicial council in a Germanic country.

To be of importance; to import; to signify.

(informal) A romantic relationship.

To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate.

(informal) A romantic couple.

To regard as important; to take account of; to care for.

(MLE) Alternate form of ting.

That which has mass and occupies space;

(MLE) Girl; attractive woman.

A vaguely specified concern;

(rare) To express as a thing; to reify.

Some situation or event that is thought about;

Whatever exists, or is conceived to exist, as a separate entity, whether animate or inanimate; any separable or distinguishable object of thought.

A problem;

An inanimate object, in distinction from a living being; any lifeless material.

(used with negation) having consequence;

A transaction or occurrence; an event; a deed.

Written works (especially in books or magazines);

A portion or part; something.

Have weight; have import, carry weight;

A diminutive or slighted object; any object viewed as merely existing; - often used in pity or contempt.

Clothes; furniture; appurtenances; luggage; as, to pack or store one's things.

Whatever may be possessed or owned; a property; - distinguished from person.

In Scandinavian countries, a legislative or judicial assembly.

In Scandinavian countries, a legislative or judicial assembly; - used, esp. in composition, in titles of such bodies. See Legislature, Norway.

A special situation;

An action;

An artifact;

An event;

A statement regarded as an object;

Any attribute or quality considered as having its own existence;

A special abstraction;

A vaguely specified concern;

An entity that is not named specifically;

A special objective;

A persistent illogical feeling of desire or aversion;

A separate and self-contained entity