■ noun
1》 physical substance or material in general; (in physics) that which occupies space and possesses mass, especially as distinct from energy.
↘a particular substance: organic ~.
2》 an affair or situation under consideration; a topic.
↘( ~s ) the present state of affairs.
3》 [usu. with negative or in questions ] ( the ~ ) the reason for a problem: what's the ~?
4》 written or printed material.
↘ Printing the body of a printed work, as distinct from titles, headings, etc.
5》 Logic the particular content of a proposition, as distinct from its form.
6》 Law something which is to be tried or proved in court; a case.
■ verb
1》 be important or significant.
2》 US (of a wound) secrete or discharge pus.
Phrases
for that ~ used to indicate that a subject, though mentioned second, is as relevant as the first.
in the ~ of as regards.
a ~ of
1》 (of time) no more than: they were shown the door in a ~ of minutes.
2》 a question of.
a ~ of course the natural or expected thing.
a ~ of record a thing that is established as a fact through being officially recorded.
no ~
1》 regardless of.
2》 it is of no importance.
Word History
Matter entered English via Old French, from the Latin word materia , meaning 'timber, substance' or 'subject of discourse'. It comes ultimately from mater , the Latin for 'mother', and many other English words derive from this same root, including maternal , matrimony , and material .