matter

[mat-er]

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.

   Synonyms: concern, thing

6. 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.

   Synonyms: moment

9. difficulty; problem; trouble: There is something the matter with the car.

   Whatever is the matter?

   There is something the matter with the car.

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.

    Synonyms: topic, subject, content

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.

    1. that which by integrative organization forms chemical substances and living things.

    2. Aristotelianism.,  that which relates to form as potentiality does to actuality.

16. Law.,  statement or allegation.

17. Printing.

    1. material for work; copy.

    2. type set up.

18. Christian Science.,  the concept of substance shaped by the limitations of the human mind.

verb (used without object)

1. to be of importance; signify.

   It matters little.

   Synonyms: count

2. Pathology.,  to suppurate.

matter

/ ˈmætə /

noun

1. that which makes up something, esp a physical object; material

2. substance that occupies space and has mass, as distinguished from substance that is mental, spiritual, etc

3. substance of a specified type

   vegetable matter

   reading matter

4. thing; affair; concern; question

   a matter of taste

   several matters to attend to

   no laughing matter

5. a quantity or amount

   a matter of a few pence

6. the content of written or verbal material as distinct from its style or form

7. (used with a negative) importance; consequence

8. philosophy (in the writings of Aristotle and the Scholastics) that which is itself formless but can receive form and become substance

9. philosophy (in the Cartesian tradition) one of two basic modes of existence, the other being mind : matter being extended in space as well as time

10. printing

    1. type set up, either standing or for use

    2. copy to be set in type

11. a secretion or discharge, such as pus

12. law

    1. something to be proved

    2. statements or allegations to be considered by a court

13. as regards that

14. See grey matter

15. 1. regardless of; irrespective of

       no matter what the excuse, you must not be late

    2. (sentence substitute) it is unimportant

16. wrong; the trouble

    there's nothing the matter

verb

1. to be of consequence or importance

2. to form and discharge pus

matter

1. Something that has mass. Most of the matter in the universe is composed of atoms which are themselves composed of subatomic particles.

2. See also energy state of matter

matter

1. In physics, something that has mass and is distinct from energy. (See phases of matter.)

Other Word Forms

• matterful adjective
• matterless adjective
• nonmatter noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of matter¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English mater(e), materie, from Anglo-French, Old French mat(i)ere, materie, from Latin māteria “woody part of a tree, material, substance,” derivative of māter “mother”; mother ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of matter¹

C13 (n), C16 (vb): from Latin māteria cause, substance, esp wood, or a substance that produces something else; related to māter mother

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. a matter of life and death, something of vital or crucial importance.

2. for that matter, as far as that is concerned; as for that: Also for the matter of that

   For that matter, you are no better qualified to judge than I.

3. as a matter of fact, in reality; actually; in fact.

   As a matter of fact, there is no substance to that rumor.

4. no matter,

   1. regardless or irrespective of.

      We'll never finish on time, no matter how hard we work.

   2. it is unimportant; it makes no difference.

      No matter, this string will do as well as any other.

More idioms and phrases containing matter

• crux of the matter
• for that matter
• gray matter
• mince matters
• mind over matter
• no joke (laughing matter)
• no matter
• the matter

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

“Judge Monguia expressed regret and remorse for his actions, and said that he had taken steps to address unconscious bias and other matters that contributed to his misconduct.”

From Los Angeles Times

Montgomery said he figures he probably would have been OK no matter what.

From Los Angeles Times

“I knew it was going to be tough, but we all believed he was going to be fine; it was just a matter of time and figuring it out.”

From Los Angeles Times

Clippers owner Steve Ballmer nearly granted naming rights to the company, but ended up choosing financial services firm Intuit to grace the $2-billion venue, a source familiar with the matter said.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Lanuszka was fired from her job in July 2023 after her employer used spy software to track her computer to find out she had been using it for personal matters.

From BBC

Related Words

• affair 
• business 
• circumstance 
• event 
• incident 
• job 
• proceeding 
• question 
• situation 
• subject 
• thing 
• topic 
• transaction