(~es, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
1.
A ~ is an organized game of football, tennis, cricket, or some other sport. (mainly BRIT)
He was watching a football ~...
France won the ~ 28-19.
= game
N-COUNT
2.
A ~ is a small wooden stick with a substance on one end that produces a flame when you rub it along the rough side of a ~box.
...a packet of cigarettes and a box of ~es.
N-COUNT
3.
If something of a particular colour or design ~es another thing, they have the same colour or design, or have a pleasing appearance when they are used together.
Her nails were painted bright red to ~ her dress...
All the chairs ~ed...
You don’t have to ~ your lipstick exactly to your outfit...
Mix and ~ your tableware and textiles from the new Design House collection.
V-RECIP: V n, pl-n V, V n to/with n, V pl-n
•
Match up means the same as ~ .
The pillow cover can ~ up with the sheets...
Because false eyelashes come in various lengths and shades, it’s so easy to ~ them up with your own.
PHRASAL VERB: V P with/to n, V n P with/to n
4.
If something such as an amount or a quality ~es with another amount or quality, they are both the same or equal. If you ~ two things, you make them the same or equal.
Their strengths in memory and spatial skills ~ed...
Our value system does not ~ with their value system.
...efforts to ~ demand with supply by building new schools.
V-RECIP: pl-n V, V with n, V n with n, also V pl-n
5.
If one thing ~es another, they are connected or suit each other in some way.
The students are asked to ~ the books with the authors...
It can take time and effort to ~ buyers and sellers...
The sale would only go ahead if the name and number ~ed...
Pictures of road signs are ~ed with their Highway Code meanings.
V-RECIP: V n with/to n, V pl-n, pl-n V, be V-ed with n
•
Match up means the same as ~ .
The consultant seeks to ~ up jobless professionals with small companies in need of expertise...
They compared the fat intake of groups of vegetarians and meat eaters, and ~ed their diets up with levels of harmful blood fats...
My sister and I never really ~ed up...
I’m sure that yellow lead ~ed up to that yellow socket.
PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron) with n, V n P with n, pl-n V P, V P to/with n, also V P pl-n
6.
If a combination of things or people is a good ~, they have a pleasing effect when placed or used together.
Helen’s choice of lipstick was a good ~ for her skin-tone...
Moira was a perfect ~ for him.
N-SING: adj N
7.
If you ~ something, you are as good as it or equal to it, for example in speed, size, or quality.
They played some fine attacking football, but I think we ~ed them in every respect...
VERB: V n
8.
In a sport or other contest, if you ~ one person or team against another, in sports or other contests, you make them compete with each other to see which one is better.
The finals of the Championship begin today, ~ing the United States against France...
VERB: V n with/against n
9.
see also ~ed , ~ing
10.
If you meet your ~, you find that you are competing or fighting against someone who you cannot beat because they are as good as you, or better than you.
I had finally met my ~ in power and intellect.
PHRASE: V inflects
11.
If one person or thing is no ~ for another, they are unable to compete successfully with the other person or thing.
I was no ~ for a man with such power...
PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR n