match Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction
    lucifer; friction match.
    • he always carries matches to light his pipe
    • as long you've a lucifer to light your fag
  2. noun a formal contest in which two or more persons or teams compete
  3. noun a burning piece of wood or cardboard
    • if you drop a match in there the whole place will explode
  4. noun an exact duplicate
    mate.
    • when a match is found an entry is made in the notebook
  5. noun the score needed to win a match
  6. noun a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect
    catch.
  7. noun a person who is of equal standing with another in a group
    peer; compeer; equal.
  8. noun a pair of people who live together
    couple; mates.
    • a married couple from Chicago
  9. noun something that resembles or harmonizes with
    • that tie makes a good match with your jacket
  10. verb be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics
    gibe; fit; tally; correspond; agree; jibe; check.
    • The two stories don't agree in many details
    • The handwriting checks with the signature on the check
    • The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun
  11. verb provide funds complementary to
    • The company matched the employees' contributions
  12. verb bring two objects, ideas, or people together
    pair; couple; mate; twin.
    • This fact is coupled to the other one
    • Matchmaker, can you match my daughter with a nice young man?
    • The student was paired with a partner for collaboration on the project
  13. verb be equal to in quality or ability
    touch; rival; equal.
    • Nothing can rival cotton for durability
    • Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues
    • Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents
  14. verb make correspond or harmonize
    fit.
    • Match my sweater
  15. verb satisfy or fulfill
    meet; cope with.
    • meet a need
    • this job doesn't match my dreams
  16. verb give or join in marriage
  17. verb set into opposition or rivalry
    oppose; play off; pit.
    • let them match their best athletes against ours
    • pit a chess player against the Russian champion
    • He plays his two children off against each other
  18. verb be equal or harmonize
    • The two pieces match
  19. verb make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching
    equalize; equate; equal; equalise.
    • let's equalize the duties among all employees in this office
    • The company matched the discount policy of its competitors

WordNet

Match noun
Etymology
OE. macche, F. mèche, F. mèche, fr. L. myxa a lamp nozzle, Gr. mucus, nostril, a lamp nozzle. Cf. Mucus.
Definitions
  1. Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium.
Match noun
Etymology
OE. macche, AS. gemæcca; akin to gemaca, and to OS. gimako, OHG. gimah fitting, suitable, convenient, Icel. mark suitable, maki mate, Sw. make, Dan. mage; all from the root of E. make, v. See Make mate, and Make, v., and cf. Mate an associate.
Definitions
  1. A person or thing equal or similar to another; one able to mate or cope with another; an equal; a mate.
    Government . . . makes an innocent man, though of the lowest rank, a match for the mightiest of his fellow subjects. Addison.
  2. A bringing together of two parties suited to one another, as for a union, a trial of skill or force, a contest, or the like; as, specifically: (a) A contest to try strength or skill, or to determine superiority; an emulous struggle. "Many a warlike match." Drayton.
    A solemn match was made; he lost the prize. Dryden.
    (b) A matrimonial union; a marriage.
  3. An agreement, compact, etc. "Thy hand upon that match." Shak.
    Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other matches than those of its own making. Boyle.
  4. A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage. "She . . . was looked upon as the richest match of the West." Clarendon.
  5. Equality of conditions in contest or competition.
    It were no match, your nail against his horn. Shak.
  6. Suitable combination or bringing together; that which corresponds or harmonizes with something else; as, the carpet and curtains are a match.
  7. (Founding) A perforated board, block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly imbedded when a mold is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of separation between the parts of the mold.
Match transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Matched ; present participle & verbal noun Matching
Definitions
  1. To be a mate or match for; to be able to complete with; to rival successfully; to equal.
    No settled senses of the world can match The pleasure of that madness. Shak.
  2. To furnish with its match; to bring a match, or equal, against; to show an equal competitor to; to set something in competition with, or in opposition to, as equal.
    No history or antiquity can matchis policies and his conduct. South.
  3. To oppose as equal; to contend successfully against.
    Eternal might To match with their inventions they presumed So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn. Milton.
  4. To make or procure the equal of, or that which is exactly similar to, or corresponds with; as, to match a vase or a horse; to match cloth. "Matching of patterns and colors." Swift.
  5. To make equal, proportionate, or suitable; to adapt, fit, or suit (one thing to another).
    Let poets match their subject to their strength. Roscommon.
  6. To marry; to give in marriage.
    A senator of Rome survived, Would not have matched his daughter with a king. Addison.
  7. To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and a groove, at the edges; as, to match boards.
Match intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To be united in marriage; to mate.
    I hold it a sin to match in my kindred. Shak.
    Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with sheep. Dryden.
  2. To be of equal, or similar, size, figure, color, or quality; to tally; to suit; to correspond; as, these vases match.

Webster 1913