match
1a slender piece of wood, cardboard, or other flammable material tipped with a chemical substance that produces fire when rubbed on a rough or chemically prepared surface.
a wick, cord, or the like, prepared to burn at an even rate, used to fire cannon, gunpowder, etc.
Origin of match
1Words Nearby match
Other definitions for match (2 of 2)
a person or thing that equals or resembles another in some respect.
a person or thing able to cope with another as an equal: to meet one's match.
a person or thing that is an exact counterpart of another.
a corresponding, suitably associated, or harmonious pair: The blue hat and green scarf were not a good match.
Sports.
a game or contest in which two or more contestants or teams oppose each other: a soccer match.
a contest consisting of a specific number of sets: a tennis match.
any contest or competition that resembles a sports match: a shouting match.
a person considered with regard to suitability as a partner in marriage: a good match.
a matrimonial union; marriage: Neither family approved of the match.
to equal; be equal to: My talent does not match his.
to be the match or counterpart of; harmonize with: The skirt matches the jacket perfectly.
to cause to correspond; adapt: to match one's actions to one's beliefs.
to fit together, as two things: to match the pieces of a puzzle.
to fit (boards) together, side by side or end to end, with a tongue-and-groove or rabbeted joint.
to procure or produce an equal to: Try though we did, we could not match our first success.
to place in opposition or conflict: I matched my wits against his strength.
to provide with an adversary or competitor of equal power: The teams were well matched.
to encounter as an adversary with equal power.
to prove a match for.
to unite in marriage; procure a matrimonial alliance for.
to toss (coins) into the air and then compare the matching or contrasting sides that land facing up, as for determining the winner of a bet.
to match coins with.
to be equal or suitable: Our talents match.
to correspond; be of corresponding size, shape, color, pattern, etc.: These gloves do not match.
Archaic. to ally oneself in marriage.
Origin of match
2Other words for match
1 | dead ringer, doppelgänger, double, image, likeness, look-alike, picture, spit and image, twin; carbon copy, clone, copy, duplicate, facsimile, replica |
2 | coequal, counterpart, equal, equivalent, like, parallel, peer, rival |
3 | companion, fellow, half, mate |
5 | game; bout, competition, contest |
Other words from match
- match·a·ble, adjective
- matcher, noun
- un·match·a·ble, adjective
- un·matched, adjective
- un·match·ing, adjective
- well-matched, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use match in a sentence
String your bow, see how it bends, unstring it, and do some tiller work—the process of carving the belly of the bow to make the bending limbs match.
This essential survival tool can save your life 10 different ways | By Tim MacWelch/Outdoor Life | September 15, 2020 | Popular-SciencePartial match domains refer to when your domain name has partially included the main keyword that you are trying to rank for.
Partial match domains in 2020: How to optimize and use effectively | Tudor Lodge Consultants | September 14, 2020 | Search Engine WatchAfter all, there is no perfect match within an activity data set.
Smart Watches Could Do More For Wheelchair Users | John Loeppky | September 4, 2020 | FiveThirtyEightI am embarrassed that I just have returned from weapons and war, not good enough to be a match for you.
The history of Mulan, from a 6th-century ballad to the live-action Disney movie | Constance Grady | September 4, 2020 | VoxBy the time Tinder announced the second season of “Swipe Night” in February, Tinder said millions of users had tuned into the series and matches and conversations had increased by 26% and 12%, respectively.
Tinder’s interactive video event ‘Swipe Night’ will launch in international markets this month | Catherine Shu | September 4, 2020 | TechCrunch
Part of the problem is the mandate of the war and the means with which the U.S. is fighting it do not match up.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War | Nancy A. Youssef | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTWe can also begin to plan our wardrobes to match our new and improved selves.
When he is awarded Player of the match while competing for India in England, he is given champagne at the ceremony.
The Story of the World’s Greatest Cricket Player | William O’Connor | December 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe trouble is, Pakistan kept losing its wars with India and is indeed no match for India.
CIA Agents Assess: How Real Is ‘Homeland’? | Chuck Cogan, John MacGaffin | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTA season of Game of Thrones tells its story over ten hours, and only a video game adaptation could match or exceed that.
‘Game of Thrones’ Interactive FanFiction: Whoops, My Friend Was Speared in the Throat | Alec Kubas-Meyer | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTLittle did Tressan dream to what a cask of gunpowder he was applying the match of his smug pertness.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniA cricket-match was in progress, but the bowling and batting were extremely wild, thanks to The Warren strong beer.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills"He's been counting the days till you got home, Mark," said Tim, holding a burning match over my pipe.
The Soldier of the Valley | Nelson LloydAnd Jimmy, although there is not much money in the family—about twenty thousand a year—would be a very good match.
Ancestors | Gertrude AthertonIt was deep twilight in the room, and rather cold, for the eucalyptus and olive logs in the fireplace still awaited the match.
Rosemary in Search of a Father | C. N. Williamson
British Dictionary definitions for match (1 of 2)
/ (mætʃ) /
a formal game or sports event in which people, teams, etc, compete to win
a person or thing able to provide competition for another: she's met her match in talking ability
a person or thing that resembles, harmonizes with, or is equivalent to another in a specified respect: that coat is a good match for your hat
a person or thing that is an exact copy or equal of another
a partnership between a man and a woman, as in marriage
an arrangement for such a partnership
a person regarded as a possible partner, as in marriage
to fit (parts) together: to match the tongue and groove of boards
(also intr sometimes foll by up) to resemble, harmonize with, correspond to, or equal (one another or something else): the skirt matches your shoes well
(sometimes foll by with or against) to compare in order to determine which is the superior: they matched wits
(often foll by to or with) to adapt so as to correspond with: to match hope with reality
(often foll by with or against) to arrange a competition between
to find a match for
electronics to connect (two circuits) so that their impedances are equal or are equalized by a coupling device, to produce a maximum transfer of energy
Origin of match
1Derived forms of match
- matchable, adjective
- matcher, noun
- matching, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for match (2 of 2)
/ (mætʃ) /
a thin strip of wood or cardboard tipped with a chemical that ignites by friction when rubbed on a rough surface or a surface coated with a suitable chemical: See safety match
a length of cord or wick impregnated with a chemical so that it burns slowly. It is used to fire cannons, explosives, etc
Origin of match
2Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with match
see meet one's match; mix and match; whole ball of wax (shooting match).
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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