I. match 1 S2 W2 /mætʃ/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ matching , ↑ unmatched ; verb : ↑ match ; noun : ↑ match ]
[ Sense 1, 3-7: Language: Old English ; Origin: mæcca ]
[ Sense 2: Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: meiche 'wick' ]
1 . GAME [countable] especially British English an organized sports event between two teams or people:
It’s our last match of the season.
cricket/football/tennis etc match
They’re preparing for a big (=important) match tomorrow.
match against/between/with
the match between Nigeria and Ireland
home/away match (=a match played at a team’s own sports ground, or at a different ground)
Good teams win their home matches.
McClaire’s goal earned him the title of man of the match (=the person in a team who plays best) .
2 . FIRE [countable] a small wooden or paper stick with a special substance at the top, that you use to light a fire, cigarette etc:
a box of matches
Don’t let your children play with matches.
strike/light a match (=rub a match against a surface to produce a flame)
Peg struck a match and lit the candle.
I tore up the letter and put a match to it (=made it burn, using a match) .
3 . COLOURS/PATTERNS [singular] something that is the same colour or pattern as something else, or looks attractive with it
match for
That shirt’s a perfect match for your blue skirt.
4 . GOOD OPPONENT [singular] someone who is much stronger, cleverer etc than their opponent:
Carlos was no match for the champion.
This time you’ve met your match, Adam Burns! I’m not giving up without a fight!
Guerrilla tactics proved more than a match for the Soviet military machine.
5 . shouting match ( also slanging match British English ) a loud angry argument in which two people insult each other:
The meeting degenerated into a shouting match.
6 . MARRIAGE [singular] a marriage or two people who are married:
They’re a perfect match.
a match made in heaven (=a marriage of two people who are exactly right for each other)
Claire made a good match (=married someone suitable) .
7 . SUITABILITY [singular] a situation in which something is suitable for something else, so that the two things work together successfully
match between
We need to establish a match between students’ needs and teaching methods.
⇨ mix and match at ↑ mix 1 (6)
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go to a match
I love going to football matches.
▪ watch a match
I watched the match on TV.
▪ play a match
We played the match in heavy rain.
▪ lose a match
They lost the match, despite playing very well.
▪ win a match
Do you think we'll win our next match?
▪ draw a match (=finish with the score even)
United have drawn their last two matches.
▪ have a match (=be scheduled to play a match)
Do we have a match on Sunday?
▪ postpone a match (=arrange for it to happen at a later time)
Our first match was postponed because of bad weather.
▪ miss a match (=not play in a match)
He missed two matches because of an ankle injury.
▪ level the match (=make the score level)
Woods won the last two holes to level the match.
▪ clinch the match (=to win a match by scoring a goal, hitting a winning ball etc)
Ronaldo clinched the match with a brilliant goal.
▪ referee a match (=be the person on the field who makes sure players follow the rules)
The matches are refereed by the children's parents.
▪ a match kicks off (=it starts)
The match kicks off at 3.30 pm.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + match
▪ great/brilliant (=very good to watch)
We're sure it's going to be another great match.
▪ exciting
The match could not have been more exciting.
▪ thrilling (=very exciting)
There were some thrilling matches at Wimbledon this year.
▪ tough (=difficult)
At this stage of the competition, every match is tough.
▪ close (=with each team playing equally well)
Germany won the match, although it was close.
▪ an important/crucial match
Luckily, all their players are fit for such an important match.
▪ a big match (=an important match)
Are you going to watch the big match on TV?
▪ a football/rugby/tennis etc match
There was a rugby match going on on the school field.
▪ a home match (=played at the place where a team usually practises)
They have won their last five home matches.
▪ an away match (=played at the place where the opponent usually practises)
This is their last away match of the season.
▪ a live match (=shown on TV as it happens)
There is a live match on TV every Wednesday evening.
▪ a friendly match (=not part of a competition)
Fitness is still important in friendly matches.
▪ a qualifying match (=to decide who plays in a competition)
They won all their qualifying matches.
▪ a semi-final match (=between two of the last four teams left in a competition)
Spain beat Russia in their semi-final match last night.
■ phrase
▪ man of the match (=the best player in a match)
Henri was named man of the match.
II. match 2 S3 W2 BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: adjective : ↑ matching , ↑ unmatched ; verb : ↑ match ; noun : ↑ match ]
1 . LOOK GOOD TOGETHER [intransitive and transitive] if one thing matches another, or if two things match, they look attractive together because they are a similar colour, pattern etc ⇨ matching :
We painted the cabinets green to match the rug.
Do you think this outfit matches?
a beech dining table with four chairs to match (=chairs that match it)
► Do not say that one thing ‘matches to’ or ‘matches with’ another. Say that one thing matches another.
2 . LOOK THE SAME [intransitive and transitive] two things that match look the same because they are a pair:
Your socks don’t match.
3 . SEEM THE SAME [intransitive and transitive] if two things match, or if one matches the other, there is no important difference between them:
The suspect matched the descriptions provided by witnesses.
Their actions do not match their words.
match exactly/closely/perfectly
The copy closely matches the original.
4 . SUITABLE [transitive] to be suitable for a particular person, thing, or situation SYN suit :
Teaching materials should match individual students’ needs.
We’ll help you find a home that will match your requirements.
well-matched/ill-matched
a well-matched pair
5 . CONNECT [transitive] to put two people or things together that are similar to or somehow connected with each other
match something to/with somebody/something
Can you name the animals and match them to the correct countries?
All checked-in baggage must be matched with a passenger travelling on the aircraft.
6 . BE EQUAL [transitive] to be equal to something in value, size, or quality:
His strength is matched by his intelligence.
Few cities in Europe can match the cultural richness of Berlin.
Fancy designer labels tend to come with fancy price tags to match.
evenly/equally matched
The two candidates are fairly evenly matched.
7 . MAKE EQUAL [transitive] to make something equal to something else
match something to something
Lindsey matched her steps to those of the other girl as they walked.
an attempt to match financial resources to need
8 . GIVE MONEY [transitive] to give a sum of money that is equal to a sum given by someone else:
The government has promised to match any private donations to the earthquake fund.
9 . COMPETITION [transitive usually passive] if you are matched against someone else in a game or competition, you are competing against them
be matched against/with somebody
Federer was matched against Nadal in the final.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ match if something matches something else, they look good together because they are very similar in colour or style:
a black suit with a handbag and shoes to match
|
The earrings matched her eyes.
▪ go with something to look good with something else - Go with is very common in everyday English:
Do you think that blue wallpaper will go with the carpet?
▪ go together if two things go together, they look good when they are worn or seen with each other. Go together is very common in everyday English:
That jacket and skirt don’t really go together.
|
The blue and the yellow go together well.
▪ complement formal if a piece of clothing or a colour complements something, it makes it look more attractive:
A simple string of pearls will complement any outfit.
▪ well coordinated/perfectly coordinated if clothes, decorations etc are well or perfectly coordinated, they look good together because they have similar colours and styles:
Her outfits are always perfectly coordinated.
match up phrasal verb
1 . match somebody/something ↔ up to put two people or things together that are related to or suitable for each other:
The employment agency exists to match up graduates and IT companies.
match somebody/something ↔ up with
My mother spent her life trying to match me up with various women.
2 . if two things match up, they seem the same or are connected in some way:
Their accounts just don’t match up.
match up with
The DNA samples found on her body did not match up with a sample taken from the accused.
3 . match up to sb’s hopes/expectations/ideals etc to be as good as you hoped, expected etc SYN measure up to :
Unfortunately, the product’s performance did not match up to the manufacturer’s promise.