matter*/*/*/

matter*/*/*/
[ˈmætə] noun I
1) [C] something that you are discussing, considering, or dealing with
an extremely important matter[/ex]
Teachers feel this is a matter for discussion with parents.[/ex]
2) the matter
[singular] used for talking about problems or bad situations
You look sad. What's the matter?[/ex]
What's the matter with the car?[/ex]
I think there's something the matter with the printer.[/ex]
There's nothing the matter (= there is no problem) with you – you're just tired.[/ex]
3) matters
[plural] a situation that someone is involved in
Syn:
things
Her angry attitude didn't improve matters.[/ex]
To make matters worse, his wife is ill.[/ex]
4) [singular]a matter of sth used for emphasizing how short a period of time is
The school could close in a matter of a few weeks.[/ex]
5) [U] a particular type of substance or thing
organic matter[/ex]
Is this suitable reading matter for a young child?[/ex]
6) [U] science
the physical substances that everything in the universe is made of
•
as a matter of fact — 1) used when you are going to give more details about something[/ex]
I haven't been here long. As a matter of fact, I just got off the plane yesterday.[/ex]

— 2) used when you are going to disagree with or correct what has just been said

'Was he in a bad mood?' 'No, as a matter of fact, he seemed quite cheerful.'[/ex]
as a matter of routine / course — done as a habit or as the usual way of doing things[/ex]
for that matter — spoken used for emphasizing that something else is also true[/ex]
He doesn't like young women, or any women for that matter.[/ex]
a matter of life and death — a serious or dangerous situation[/ex]
a matter of opinion / taste — something that different people have different opinions about[/ex]
a matter of time — used for saying that something will certainly happen eventually[/ex]
It was only a matter of time before she left the company.[/ex]
II
verb
[I] matter */*/*/[ˈmætə]
to be important
Education matters.[/ex]
Does it matter if I don't take a present?[/ex]
It doesn't really matter if we're a bit late.[/ex]
Winning this award matters a lot to me.[/ex]

Dictionary for writing and speaking English. 2014.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Matter — • Taking the term in its widest sense, matter signifies that out of which anything is made or composed Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Matter     Matter      …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • matter — mat·ter n 1: a subject of consideration, disagreement, or litigation: as a: a legal case, dispute, or issue a matter within the court s jurisdiction often used in titles of legal proceedings matter of Doe see also in re b …   Law dictionary

  • Matter — Mat ter, n. [OE. matere, F. mati[ e]re, fr. L. materia; perh. akin to L. mater mother. Cf. {Mother}, {Madeira}, {Material}.] 1. That of which anything is composed; constituent substance; material; the material or substantial part of anything; the …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • matter — n 1 Matter, substance, material, stuff are comparable when they mean what goes into the makeup or forms the being of a thing whether physical or not. In the relevant sense matter basically denotes that of which all physical objects are made, but… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • matter — ► NOUN 1) physical substance or material in general, as distinct from mind and spirit; (in physics) that which occupies space and possesses mass. 2) an affair or situation under consideration; a topic. 3) (the matter) the reason for a problem. 4) …   English terms dictionary

  • matter — [mat′ər] n. [ME matiere < OFr < L materia, material, stuff, wood (< base of mater, MOTHER1), orig., the growing trunk of a tree] 1. what a thing is made of; constituent substance or material 2. what all (material) things are made of;… …   English World dictionary

  • Matter — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Bernhard Matter (1821–1854), Schweizer Krimineller, erwähnt in einem Lied von Mani Matter Franz Matter (1931–1999), Schweizer Schauspieler und Regisseur Herbert Matter (1907–1984), Schweizer Fotograf und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • matter — [n1] substance amount, being, body, constituents, corporeality, corporeity, element, entity, individual, material, materialness, object, phenomenon, physical world, protoplasm, quantity, stuff, substantiality, sum, thing; concepts 407,433,470 Ant …   New thesaurus

  • Matter — Mat ter, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Mattered}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Mattering}.] 1. To be of importance; to import; to signify. [1913 Webster] It matters not how they were called. Locke. [1913 Webster] 2. To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Matter — Mat ter, v. t. To regard as important; to take account of; to care for. [Obs.] [1913 Webster] He did not matter cold nor hunger. H. Brooke. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Matter — Matter, Jacques, geb. 1791 zu Alteckendorf im Elsaß, wurde 1819 Professor der Geschichte in Strasburg, 1821 Gymnasialdirector u. Professor der Geschichte an der dortigen protestantischen Akademie, 1831 Inspector der Akademie u. 1832… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

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