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match

 - 7 dictionary results
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match

1  [mach]
–noun
1. 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.
2. a wick, cord, or the like, prepared to burn at an even rate, used to fire cannon, gunpowder, etc.
Use match in a Sentence
Origin:
1350–1400; ME macche wick < MF meiche, OF mesche < VL *mesca lamp wick, metathetic var. of L myxa < Gk mýxa mucus, nostril, nozzle of a lamp
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match

2  [mach]
–noun
1. a person or thing that equals or resembles another in some respect.
2. a person or thing able to cope with another as an equal: to meet one's match.
3. a person or thing that is an exact counterpart of another.
4. a corresponding, suitably associated, or harmonious pair: The blue hat and green scarf were not a good match.
5. Sports.
a. a game or contest in which two or more contestants or teams oppose each other: a soccer match.
b. a contest consisting of a specific number of sets: a tennis match.
6. any contest or competition that resembles a sports match: a shouting match.
7. a person considered with regard to suitability as a partner in marriage: a good match.
8. a matrimonial union; marriage: Neither family approved of the match.
–verb (used with object)
9. to equal; be equal to: My talent does not match his.
10. to be the match or counterpart of; harmonize with: The skirt matches the jacket perfectly.
11. to cause to correspond; adapt: to match one's actions to one's beliefs.
12. to fit together, as two things: to match the pieces of a puzzle.
13. to fit (boards) together, side by side or end to end, with a tongue-and-groove or rabbeted joint.
14. to procure or produce an equal to: Try though we did, we could not match our first success.
15. to place in opposition or conflict: I matched my wits against his strength.
16. to provide with an adversary or competitor of equal power: The teams were well matched.
17. to encounter as an adversary with equal power.
18. to prove a match for.
19. to unite in marriage; procure a matrimonial alliance for.
20. 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.
21. to match coins with.
–verb (used without object)
22. to be equal or suitable: Our talents match.
23. to correspond; be of corresponding size, shape, color, pattern, etc.: These gloves do not match.
24. Archaic. to ally oneself in marriage.
Origin:
bef. 900; ME macche, OE gemæcca mate, fellow

Related forms:
match⋅a⋅ble, adjective
matcher, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To match
match 1   (māch)   
n.  

    1. One that is exactly like another; a counterpart.

    2. One that is like another in one or more specified qualities: He is John's match for bravery.

    3. One that closely resembles or harmonizes with another: The napkins were a nice match for the tablecloth.

    4. A pair, each one of which resembles or harmonizes with the other: The colors were a close match.

    5. A game or contest in which two or more persons, animals, or teams oppose and compete with each other: a soccer match.

    6. A tennis contest won by the player or side that wins a specified number of sets, usually two out of three or three out of five.

  2. One that is able to compete equally with another: The boxer had met his match.

    1. One that closely resembles or harmonizes with another: The napkins were a nice match for the tablecloth.

    2. A pair, each one of which resembles or harmonizes with the other: The colors were a close match.

    3. A game or contest in which two or more persons, animals, or teams oppose and compete with each other: a soccer match.

    4. A tennis contest won by the player or side that wins a specified number of sets, usually two out of three or three out of five.

  4. Sports

    1. A game or contest in which two or more persons, animals, or teams oppose and compete with each other: a soccer match.

    2. A tennis contest won by the player or side that wins a specified number of sets, usually two out of three or three out of five.

  5. A marriage or an arrangement of marriage: a royal match.

  6. A person viewed as a prospective marriage partner.

v.   matched, match·ing, match·es

v.   tr.

    1. To be exactly like; correspond exactly.

    2. To be like with respect to specified qualities.

  2. To resemble or harmonize with: The coat matches the dress.

  3. To adapt or suit so that a balanced or harmonious result is achieved; cause to correspond: You should match your deeds to your beliefs.

  4. To find or produce a counterpart to: It's difficult to match the color of old paint.

  5. To fit together or cause to fit together.

  6. To join or give in marriage.

  7. To place in opposition or competition; pit: She matched her skill against all comers.

  8. To provide with an adversary or competitor.

  9. To do as well as or better than in competition; equal.

  10. To set in comparison; compare: beauty that could never be matched.

  11. To provide funds so as to equal or complement: The government will match all private donations to the museum.

  12. To flip or toss (coins) and compare the sides that land face up.

  13. To couple (electric circuits) by means of a transformer.

v.   intr.
To be a close counterpart; correspond.

[Middle English macche, from Old English gemæcca, companion, mate; see mag- in Indo-European roots.]
match'er n.
match 2   (māch)   
n.  

  1. A narrow piece, usually of wood or cardboard, coated on one end with a compound that ignites when scratched against a rough or chemically treated surface.

  2. An easily ignited cord or wick, formerly used to detonate powder charges or to fire cannons and muzzle-loading firearms.


[Middle English matche, lamp wick, from Old French mesche, from Vulgar Latin *micca, from Latin myxa, a lamp's nozzle, from Greek muxa, mucus, lamp wick.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

match  (1)
"stick for striking fire," 1377, "wick of a candle or lamp," from O.Fr. meiche "wick of a candle," from V.L. *micca/*miccia (cf. Catalan metxa, Sp. mecha, It. miccia), probably ult. from L. myxa, from Gk. myxa "lamp wick," originally "mucus," based on notion of wick dangling from the spout of a lamp like snot from a nostril. Meaning "piece of cord or splinter of wood soaked in sulphur, used for lighting fires, lamps, candles, etc." is from 1530. First used 1831 for the modern type of friction match, and competed with lucifer for much of 19c. as the name for this invention.

match  (2)
"one of a pair," O.E. mæcca, from gemæcca "companion, mate, wife, one suited to another," from P.Gmc. *gamakon "fitting well together" (cf. O.H.G. gimah "comfort, ease," M.H.G. gemach "comfortable, quiet"), from PIE base *mak-/*mag- "to fit" (see make (v.)). M.E. sense of "matching adversary, person able to contend with another" (c.1300) led to sporting meaning "contest," first attested 1545. Match-maker "marriage-broker" is attested from c.1639.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

match

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

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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