noun 1.the substance or substances of
which any physical
object consists or is composed:
the matter of which the earth is made. 2.physical or corporeal substance in general, whether solid, liquid, or gaseous, especially as distinguished from incorporeal substance, as spirit or mind, or from qualities, actions, and the like.
3.something that occupies space.
4.a particular kind of substance: coloring matter.
5.a situation, state, affair, or business: a trivial matter.
EXPAND6.an amount or extent reckoned approximately: a matter of 10 miles.
7.something of consequence: matter for serious thought.
8.importance or significance: decisions of little matter.
9.difficulty; trouble (usually preceded by the): There is something the matter.
10.ground,
reason, or cause:
a matter for complaint. 11.the material or substance of a discourse, book, etc., often as distinguished from its form.
12.things put down in words, especially printed: reading matter.
13.things sent by mail: postal matter.
14.a substance discharged by a living body, especially pus.
15.Philosophy. a.that which by integrative
organization forms chemical substances and living things.
b.Aristotelianism. that which relates to form as potentiality does to actuality.
16.Law. statement or allegation.
17.Printing. a.material for work; copy.
18.Christian Science. the concept of substance shaped by the limitations of the human mind.
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object) 19.to be of importance; signify: It matters little.
20.Pathology. to suppurate.
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As a matter of fact
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
So is interrobang. Does it mean:
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
Idioms21.a matter of life and death, something of vital or crucial importance.
22.as a matter of fact, in reality; actually; in fact: As a matter of fact, there is no substance to that rumor.
23.for that matter, as far as that is concerned; as for that: For that matter, you are no better qualified to judge than I. Also, for the matter of that.
24.no matter, a.regardless or irrespective of: We'll never finish on time, no matter how hard we work.
b.it is unimportant; it makes no difference:
No matter, this string will do as well as any other.
Origin: 1175–1225; Middle English mater(
e),
materie <
Anglo-French, Old French mat(
i)
ere, materie <
Latin māteria woody part of a tree, material, substance, derivative of
māter mother1 Related formsmat·ter·ful, adjective
mat·ter·less, adjective
non·mat·ter, noun
Can be confused: madder,
matter (see synonym note at
the current entry).
Synonyms
1. Matter, material, stuff, substance refer to that of which physical objects are composed (though all these terms are also used abstractly). Matter, as distinct from mind and spirit, is a broad word that applies to anything perceived, or known to be occupying space: solid matter; gaseous matter. Material usually means some definite kind, quality, or quantity of matter, especially as intended for use: woolen material; a house built of good materials. Stuff, a less technical word, with approximately the same meanings as material, is characterized by being on an informal level when it refers to physical objects (Dynamite is queer stuff), and on a literary or poetic one when it is used abstractly (the stuff that dreams are made on). Substance is the matter that composes a thing, thought of in relation to its essential properties: a sticky substance. 5. question. 7. concern. 8. moment. 11. subject, topic. 19. count.