match

[ mach ]

/ mætʃ /

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See synonyms for: match / matched / matches / matching on Thesaurus.com

noun

a 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.

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Origin of match

1350–1400; Middle English macche wick <Middle French meiche,Old French mesche<Vulgar Latin *mesca lamp wick, metathetic variant of Latin myxa<Greek mýxa mucus, nostril, nozzle of a lamp

Definition for match (2 of 2)

match²

[ mach ]

/ mætʃ /

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

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.

verb (used without object)

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

before 900; Middle English macche,Old English gemæcca mate, fellow

OTHER WORDS FROM match

match·a·ble, adjectivematcher, nounun·match·a·ble, adjectiveun·matched, adjective

un·match·ing, adjectivewell-matched, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for match

I would instead consider adding the broad match to the ad group to test it.
Google Ads wants advertisers to give broad match another shot|Ginny Marvin|November 16, 2020|Search Engine Land
In other words, the gene from one species is no match for its counterpart in the other.
A key to the mystery of fast-evolving genes was found in ‘junk DNA’|Monique Brouillette|November 16, 2020|Science News
If there’s a hard-to-please security-minded tech head on your list, they may have met their match.
The best Walmart Cyber Monday deals: The best early deals and sales on TVs, air fryers, gaming consoles, and more|Carla Sosenko|November 12, 2020|Popular Science
Even now, he said, his father texts similar messages before every match.
Gio Reyna is primed for his USMNT debut. And he’s only 17.|Steven Goff|November 11, 2020|Washington Post

In a nutshell, match coverage lets a defense play this if the offense does that after the snap, which you can see an example of here.
In effective pass coverage, what you see isn’t always what you get|Richard Johnson|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
A point has now been reached where we can use an escapement matcher to advantage.
Watch and Clock Escapements|Anonymous
One matcher hanger is moved by the screw e, the other by e′.
Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II|Joshua Rose
An index at the rear of the machine enables the operator to set the matcher heads to any desired width.
Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II|Joshua Rose
Madame Mathieu was the matcher of precious stones to whom we have before referred.
The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 4 of 6|Eugne Sue
To make the jewel-matcher bite he has already sold her a diamond worth four hundred francs.
The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 4 of 6|Eugne Sue

British Dictionary definitions for match (1 of 2)

match¹

/ (mætʃ) /

noun

a formal game or sports event in which people, teams, etc, compete to win

a person or thing able to provide competition for anothershe's met her match in talking ability

a person or thing that resembles, harmonizes with, or is equivalent to another in a specified respectthat 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

verb (mainly tr)

to fit (parts) togetherto 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 superiorthey matched wits

(often foll by to or with) to adapt so as to correspond withto 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

Derived forms of match

matchable, adjectivematcher, nounmatching, adjective

Word Origin for match

Old English gemæcca spouse; related to Old High German gimmaha wife, Old Norse maki mate

British Dictionary definitions for match (2 of 2)

match²

/ (mætʃ) /

noun

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 chemicalSee 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

Word Origin for match

C14: from Old French meiche, perhaps from Latin myxa wick, from Greek muxa lamp nozzle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with match

match

see meet one's match; mix and match; whole ball of wax (shooting match).

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