matter

¹mat·ter

noun \ˈma-tər\

Definition of MATTER

1

a : a subject under consideration

b : a subject of disagreement or litigation

c plural : the events or circumstances of a particular situation

d : the subject or substance of a discourse or writing

e : something of an indicated kind or having to do with an indicated field or situation <this is a serious matter> <as a matter of policy> <matters of faith>

f : something to be proved in law

g obsolete : sensible or serious material as distinguished from nonsense or drollery

h (1) obsolete : reason, cause (2) : a source especially of feeling or emotion

i : problem, difficulty

2

a : the substance of which a physical object is composed

b : material substance that occupies space, has mass, and is composed predominantly of atoms consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons, that constitutes the observable universe, and that is interconvertible with energy

c : a material substance of a particular kind or for a particular purpose <vegetable matter>

d (1) : material (as feces or urine) discharged from the living body (2) : material discharged by suppuration : pus

3

a : the indeterminate subject of reality; especially : the element in the universe that undergoes formation and alteration

b : the formless substratum of all things which exists only potentially and upon which form acts to produce realities

4

: a more or less definite amount or quantity <cooks in a matter of minutes>

5

: something written or printed

6

: mail

7

Christian Science : the illusion that the objects perceived by the physical senses have the reality of substance

— as a matter of fact

: in fact : actually

— for that matter

: so far as that is concerned

— no matter

: without regard to : irrespective of <points in the same direction no matter how it is tilted>

— no matter what

: regardless of the costs, consequences, or results <wants to win, no matter what>

— the matter

: wrong <nothing's the matter with me>

Examples of MATTER

1. He has a few personal matters to deal with.
2. Disagreement is one thing, but accusations of lying are a different matter altogether!
3. Can matter and energy be changed into each other?

Origin of MATTER

Middle English matere, from Anglo-French, from Latin materia matter, physical substance, from mater

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to MATTER

Synonyms

content, motif, motive, question, subject, theme, topic

Antonyms

answer, solution

Related Words

subject matter; talking point; count, idea, point, purpose; consideration, issue, problem; body, bulk, burden, centerpiece, core, crux, essence, fundamental, generality, gist, grist, heart, kernel, keynote, main, marrow, mass, net, nub, nubbin, nucleus, pith, pivot, purport, quick, staple, substance, sum; basis; bottom, essential, essentiality; affair, argument, debate

Near Antonyms

aside, digression, excursion, interjection, parenthesis, tangent

Rhymes with MATTER

attar, batter, blatter, chatter, clatter, flatter, hatter, latter, natter, patter, plaiter, platter, ratter, scatter, shatter, smatter, spatter, splatter, tatter

²matter

intransitive verb

Definition of MATTER

1

: to form or discharge pus : suppurate <mattering wound>

2

: to be of importance : signify

Examples of MATTER

1. It may not matter to you, but it matters a lot to me!
2. “Why are you being so quiet?” “Does it matter?” “Of course it matters!”

First Known Use of MATTER

1530

Related to MATTER

Synonyms

count, import, mean, signify, weigh, carry weight, cut ice

Related Words

affect, concern, influence, sway; add up (to), amount (to)

Rhymes with MATTER

batter, chatter, clatter, flatter, natter, patter, plaiter, scatter, shatter, smatter, spatter, splatter, tatter

mat·ter

noun \ˈmat-ər\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of MATTER

1

: material (as feces or urine) discharged or for discharge from the living body <an obstruction interfering with passage of matter from the intestine>

2

: material discharged by suppuration : pus

matter

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Material substance that constitutes the observable universe and, together with energy, forms the basis of all objective phenomena. Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. Every physical entity can be described, physically and mathematically, in terms of interrelated quantities of mass, inertia, and gravitation. Matter in bulk occurs in several states; the most familiar are the gaseous (see gas), liquid, and solid states (plasmas, glasses, and various others are less clearly defined), each with characteristic properties. According to Albert Einstein's special theory of relativity, matter and energy are equivalent and interconvertible (see conservation law).