I. ˈmach noun
( -es )
Etymology: in sense 1, from Middle English macche match, mate, spouse, from Old English mæcca, gemæcca mate, spouse; in other senses, from match (II) ; Old English mæcca, ge mæcca akin to Old English ge maca companion, mate, spouse, Old High German gi mahha wife, Old Norse maki match, mate, Old English macian to make — more at make
1.
a.
(1) : one that can as an equal compete with, combat, or otherwise oppose another : an individual or group of individuals possessing the same qualities (as strength, courage, intelligence) in the same degree as an opposing individual or group
a wrestler who finally met his match
a baseball team that appears to be a match for the world champions
: one able to cope with another
will be more than a match for her
(2) : one that equals another in the extent of a shared quality (as of character)
a figure that for heroism has no match in history
b.
(1) : one that is exactly like another : one that forms an exact pair with another : an exact counterpart
a lake that was almost the match of one he remembered from Switzerland
(2) : one that closely resembles or harmonizes (as in appearance) with another
wore a blouse that was a nice match for her skirt
c. : a pair made up of two individuals that are exact counterparts of each other or that closely resemble or harmonize (as in appearance) with each other
a jacket and scarf that are a good match
2.
a. : a contest or game in which two or more individuals or groups of individuals oppose each other
a golf match
a cricket match
b. : a race between two horses belonging to different owners run in accordance with terms agreed upon by the owners
3. obsolete : agreement , compact , bargain
4.
a.
(1) : an agreement to enter into marriage
(2) : a marriage union
b. : a person eligible to enter into marriage and viewed with regard to his or her advantages or disadvantages (as of social position, wealth) as a marriage partner for a prospective mate
would make a good match for any man
5.
a. : a device for fitting together two halves of a ceramics mold that consists of a knob on one half and a corresponding depression on the other
b. : a form shaped to support a pattern and made of plaster of paris or similar materials and sand or of a mixture of sand and litharge and boiled linseed oil
6. : a condition in which two colors appear to have the same hue, saturation, and lightness
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
Etymology: Middle English macchen, from macche, n. — more at match I
transitive verb
1.
a. : to encounter especially successfully as an antagonist or competitor : to meet and prove to be the equal of
troops whom none could match in battle
b.
(1) : to set in competition or combat with or in other opposition to : pit , array
matching his strength against his enemy's
(2) : to provide with a competitor or adversary of equal strength, courage, or ability
was matched with someone that would really put his championship to the test
c. : to set in comparison with : compare the quality of
almost any drama matched with his seems trivial
2.
a. : to join or give in marriage
thought of matching her son with an heiress
b. obsolete : to join in close association : put in close proximity
3.
a.
(1) : to pair up or put in a set as possessing equal or harmonizing attributes : combine as being suitable or congenial
matched the tie and the shirt
(2) : to cause to be proportioned to : make correspond : adapt , suit
matched his generosity to her love
b.
(1) : to be the exact counterpart of : equal in qualities
trying to find a vase to match the remaining one of a pair
(2) : to resemble sufficiently to be suitably coupled with : be enough like to go agreeably with : correspond to : harmonize with
a coat that will match almost anything you choose to wear
c.
(1) : to produce or provide with an exact counterpart of or for
a climate that can't be matched anywhere else in the world
(2) : to produce or provide with a suitable or harmonious counterpart of or for
wanted to match the period decor with some antique furniture
4.
a. : to fit together or make suitable for fitting together ; specifically : to furnish (boards) at the edges with a tongue and groove
b. : to couple (two electric circuits) by a device (as a transformer) that by providing equality of impedance ensures maximum transfer of power from one circuit to the other
5.
a. : to flip, toss, or otherwise manipulate (coins) and compare the faces so exposed either to decide something contested or as a form of gambling
matched a couple of quarters to see who would pay the check
b. : to go through this process with (another person)
said he would match him for it
intransitive verb
1.
a. archaic : to enter into a marriage union : become married
b. obsolete : couple , mate
2.
a. : to be an exact or close counterpart : be a counterpart that agreeably blends or harmonizes
wore a new spring coat and a hat to match
b. : to go together agreeably by reason of being exact or close counterparts that blend or harmonize
gloves that will match very nicely with your coat
Synonyms:
match , rival , equal , approach , touch signify in common, often in negative constructions, to be or come to be equivalent to (someone or something else) or come up to or nearly up to (the standard of another or the person or thing embodying it). match stresses equivalence, usually a rival or competitive equivalence
we are prone to imitate the vices of those whose virtues we cannot match — E.S.McCartney
even in truth to nature, truth to life, he cannot match them — Laurence Binyon
the beauty of his person was matched by the grace and dignity of his spirit — John Buchan
his belief that … the United States can not match Russia in sheer number of workers — Current Biography
rival is often interchangeable with match but usually suggests rather a coming close to or a slight falling short of equivalence, often stressing more the idea of competitive effort or comparison
the bright but penniless youth whose climb to fame rivaled the most incredible of the Alger stories — American Guide Series: Minnesota
in winter it is a ski center rivaling its near neighbor — E.W.Smith
he rivaled his friend Donne in fathering children — Douglas Bush
political discussions that rival the temperature in intensity — American Guide Series: Tennessee
equal is very close to match in implying a sharing of the same level or plane, especially of excellence or achievement, stressing possibly a little less the idea of competition or rivalry
when he went aloft to set sail or to shorten sail he performed feats which equaled those of circus performers — C.S.Forester
few campaigns have equaled that of 1828 for its license and bitter personalities — W.C.Ford
the contestants rode with a maniacal fury they had never seen equaled before — T.B.Costain
approach and touch are almost interchangeable implying a coming within sight of equivalence or a near equaling and both seldom carrying the idea of competition or rivalry, approach possibly suggesting a somewhat greater falling short of equivalence than touch
though some of Shakespeare's songs approach purity, there is, in fact, an alloy — Clive Bell
Lincoln approached perfection in the field of government — W.J.Reilly
a new type, destined to be frequently imitated, but seldom approached and never exactly reproduced — Richard Garnett †1906
you have pretty girls in Scotland … but none to touch Miss Westwater — John Buchan
few of the academicians … can touch Catton's ability to get the feel of a period — Laurent Le Sage
III. noun
( -es )
Etymology: Middle English macche, mecche, from Middle French meiche, perhaps modification of Latin myxa lamp wick, from Greek, lamp wick, nasal mucus — more at mucus
1.
a. obsolete : the wick of a candle or lamp
b.
(1) : a wick or cord chemically prepared to burn at a uniform rate and formerly much used in firing cannon and muskets and other firearms and in igniting a train of powder
(2) : the material used in making such a wick or cord
2.
a. : a piece of cord, cloth, or paper or a splint of wood dipped in melted sulfur so as to be able to catch fire from a spark and formerly much used to light candles or lamps or to ignite fuel or to fumigate something
b. : a piece of flammable material (as wood) having a tip treated with potassium chlorate and sugar so as to ignite when touched with sulfuric acid
3. : a short slender piece of wood or other fairly rigid flammable material tipped with a combustible mixture that bursts into flame through friction (as by being scratched against a usually rough or specially prepared surface) and that so ignites the piece