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
1Other 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. 2024
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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