MATTER


Meaning of MATTER in English

■ 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 .

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.