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.
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
One that is like another in one or more specified qualities: He is John's match for bravery.
One that closely resembles or harmonizes with another: The napkins were a nice match for the tablecloth.
A pair, each one of which resembles or harmonizes with the other: The colors were a close match.
A game or contest in which two or more persons, animals, or teams oppose and compete with each other: a soccer match.
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.
One that is able to compete equally with another: The boxer had met his match.
One that closely resembles or harmonizes with another: The napkins were a nice match for the tablecloth.
A pair, each one of which resembles or harmonizes with the other: The colors were a close match.
A game or contest in which two or more persons, animals, or teams oppose and compete with each other: a soccer match.
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.
Sports
A game or contest in which two or more persons, animals, or teams oppose and compete with each other: a soccer match.
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.
A marriage or an arrangement of marriage: a royal match.
A person viewed as a prospective marriage partner.
v.
matched, match·ing, match·es
v.
tr.
To be exactly like; correspond exactly.
To be like with respect to specified qualities.
To resemble or harmonize with: The coat matches the dress.
To adapt or suit so that a balanced or harmonious result is achieved; cause to correspond: You should match your deeds to your beliefs.
To find or produce a counterpart to: It's difficult to match the color of old paint.
To fit together or cause to fit together.
To join or give in marriage.
To place in opposition or competition; pit: She matched her skill against all comers.
To provide with an adversary or competitor.
To do as well as or better than in competition; equal.
To set in comparison; compare: beauty that could never be matched.
To provide funds so as to equal or complement: The government will match all private donations to the museum.
To flip or toss (coins) and compare the sides that land face up.
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.
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.
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.]
[mach] 
