Definition: object

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Source: WordNet (r) 1.7 

object
     n 1: a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a
          shadow; "it was full of rackets, balls and other
          objects" [syn: physical object]
     2: the goal intended to be attained (and which is believed to
        be attainable); "the sole object of her trip was to see
        her children" [syn: aim, objective, target]
     3: a grammatical constituent that is acted upon; "the object of
        the verb"
     4: the focus of cognitions or feelings; "objects of thought";
        "the object of my affection"
     v : express or raise an objection or protest; express dissent;
         "She never objected to the amount of work her boss
         charged her with"

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) 

Object \Ob*ject"\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Objected; p. pr. & vb.
   n. Objecting.] [L. objectus, p. p. of objicere, obicere, to
   throw or put before, to oppose; ob (see Ob-) + jacere to
   throw: cf. objecter. See Jet a shooting forth.]
   1. To set before or against; to bring into opposition; to
      oppose. [Obs.]

            Of less account some knight thereto object, Whose
            loss so great and harmful can not prove. --Fairfax.

            Some strong impediment or other objecting itself.
                                                  --Hooker.

            Pallas to their eyes The mist objected, and
            condensed the skies.                  --Pope.

   2. To offer in opposition as a criminal charge or by way of
      accusation or reproach; to adduce as an objection or
      adverse reason.

            He gave to him to object his heinous crime.
                                                  --Spencer.

            Others object the poverty of the nation. --Addison.

            The book . . . giveth liberty to object any crime
            against such as are to be ordered.    --Whitgift.
Object \Ob*ject"\, v. i.
   To make opposition in words or argument; -- usually followed
   by to. --Sir. T. More.
Object \Ob"ject\, 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;
      as, he observed an object in the distance; all the objects
      in sight; he touched a strange object in the dark.

   2. That 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.

            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.

            The object of their bitterest hatred. --Macaulay.

   3. That by 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; end; aim;
      motive; final cause.
Object \Ob*ject"\, a. [L. objectus, p. p.]
   Opposed; presented in opposition; also, exposed. [Obs.]

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10) 

object

   In object-oriented programming, a unique instance of a data
   structure defined according to the template provided by its
   class.  Each object has its own values for the variables
   belonging to its class and can respond to the messages
   (methods) defined by its class.