Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - something

pronoun (not usually in questions or negatives) 1 used to mean a particular thing when you do not know its name, do not know exactly what it is etc  (There's something in my eye. | Sarah said something about coming over later. | something new/old etc)  (It's a good little car but I'm looking for something faster. | something else (=something different))  (The house was too small so they decided to look for something else.) 2 there is something about used to say that a person, situation etc has a quality or feature that you recognize but you cannot say exactly what it is  (There's something about America that I find really exciting. | there is something unusual/strange etc about)  (There was always something a little sad about her.) 3 do something to do something in order to deal with a problem or difficult situation  (Don't just stand there - do something! | do something about sth)  (Can't you do something about that smell!) 4 it's (quite/really) something used to say that something should be admired because it is impressive  (Running your own company at age 21 is really something!) 5 something like 100/two thousand etc aproximately 100, two thousand etc  (Something like 80% of the population has no running water.) 6 something of a used like `rather' to emphasize the effect of something, the seriousness of something etc  (He has made something of a name for himself in the world of tennis.) 7 be something of a gardener/an expert etc to know a lot about something or to be very good at something  (Charlie's always been something of an expert on architecture.) 8 have something of to have a few of the same features or qualities that someone else has  (It was clear that Jenkins had inherited something of his father's brilliance.) 9 there's something in used to admit that someone's words are true or their ideas are successful etc  (They had to concede that there was something in his teaching methods.) 10 have/be something to do with to be connected with or related to a particular person or thing, but you are not sure in what way  (I don't know much about his work, but I know it's something to do with animals.) 11 thirty-something/forty-something etc especially humorous used to say that someone is aged between 30 and 39, between 40 and 49 etc when you do not know exactly 12 a little something a small or cheap gift  (I got you a little something from my holiday.) 13 or something used when you cannot remember or do not want to give another example of something you are mentioning  (Here's some money. Get yourself a sandwich or something. | Her name was Judith, or Julie or something.) 14 something like that used when you cannot remember or do not want to say something exactly  (She works in sales or promotion, something like that.) 15 there's something wrong with used to say that something is not working properly  (There's something wrong with my car so I had to get the bus.) 16 something to eat/drink some food or a drink  (Would you like something to drink? | We had something to eat after the show.) 17 something to do an activity or task  (If you're looking for something to do, why not clean up the kitchen?) 18 sixty something/John something etc used when you cannot remember the rest of a number or name  (It cost over a hundred pounds. A hundred and twenty something it was.) 19 that's something used to say that there is one thing that you should be glad about  (At least we have some money left. That's something, isn't it?)