A living thing is anything that has life, while a non-living thing is anything that does not have life. Cell division allows living things to grow. Amoeba and other unicellular creatures grow by increasing the size of the organism's solitary cell. The incorporation of outside material allows non-living creatures to grow. There are numerous characteristics that distinguish living from nonliving things. This distinguishing element is not limited to actions such as walking, jogging, or eating ... Learn 150+ living and non-living things names with chart. Understand the differences with examples for students and learners. The document outlines the characteristics that distinguish living things from nonliving things, emphasizing that living things breathe, use energy, reproduce, grow, respond to their environment, adapt, and have cells. In contrast, nonliving things do not exhibit any of these traits. The document also includes references for further information. A non-living thing is anything that was never alive. In order for something to be classified as living, it must grow and develop, use energy, reproduce, be made of cells, respond to its environment, and adapt. While many things meet one or more of these criteria, a living thing must meet all of the criteria. Living and non-living things interact with each other all the time.