Definition

1. Noun:
   • A movable object used to make a room or building suitable for living or working in. It refers to a single, distinct item such as a chair, table, or bed.

Usage

• The term "article of furniture" is a formal and somewhat technical term. It is most commonly used to refer to a single, countable item within the larger, uncountable category of "furniture."
• It is often used in contexts like inventories, legal descriptions, insurance policies, or detailed discussions about specific pieces.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The most valuable article of furniture in the house was an antique mahogany desk.
  • Each article of furniture was carefully listed on the moving inventory.
  • The room was empty except for one solitary article of furniture: a simple wooden chair.

Advanced Usage

• "An article of furniture" vs. "Furniture": "Furniture" is an uncountable noun referring to the collective items. "An article of furniture" is a countable phrase that isolates one item from that collection.
  • We need to buy new furniture for the living room. (General, collective)
  • We need to buy a new article of furniture for the living room. (Specific, implies one item like a sofa)

Variants and Related Words

• Piece of furniture (noun phrase): This is a more common and less formal synonym for "article of furniture." The two phrases are often interchangeable.
  • That is a beautiful piece of furniture.
• Furnishing (noun): Often used in the plural ("furnishings"), this can refer to all the furniture and decorative items in a room. A single "furnishing" can be synonymous with an "article of furniture."
  • The furnishings included several valuable antiques.

Synonyms

• Piece of furniture: Item of furniture.
• Furnishing: (when referring to a single item).
• Unit: (e.g., a storage unit).

Related Phrases

• Statement piece: A striking or distinctive article of furniture that defines a room's style.
  • The grand piano was the statement piece in the music room.

Noun

1. furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy
   • they had too much furniture for the small apartment
   • there was only one piece of furniture in the room