match 1
/mach/ , n.
1. a slender piece of wood, cardboard, or other flammable material tipped with a chemical substance that produces fire when rubbed on a rough or chemically prepared surface.
2. a wick, cord, or the like, prepared to burn at an even rate, used to fire cannon, gunpowder, etc.
[ 1350-1400; ME macche wick meiche, OF mesche mesca lamp wick, metathetic var. of L myxa mýxa mucus, nostril, nozzle of a lamp ]
match 2
— matchable , adj. — matcher , n.
/mach/ , n.
1. a person or thing that equals or resembles another in some respect.
2. a person or thing able to cope with another as an equal: to meet one's match.
3. a person or thing that is an exact counterpart of another.
4. a corresponding, suitably associated, or harmonious pair: The blue hat and green scarf were not a good match.
5. Sports.
a. a game or contest in which two or more contestants or teams oppose each other: a soccer match.
b. a contest consisting of a specific number of sets: a tennis match.
6. any contest or competition that resembles a sports match: a shouting match.
7. a person considered with regard to suitability as a partner in marriage: a good match.
8. a matrimonial union; marriage: Neither family approved of the match.
v.t.
9. to equal; be equal to: My talent does not match his.
10. to be the match or counterpart of; harmonize with: The skirt matches the jacket perfectly.
11. to cause to correspond; adapt: to match one's actions to one's beliefs.
12. to fit together, as two things: to match the pieces of a puzzle.
13. to fit (boards) together, side by side or end to end, with a tongue-and-groove or rabbeted joint.
14. to procure or produce an equal to: Try though we did, we could not match our first success.
15. to place in opposition or conflict: I matched my wits against his strength.
16. to provide with an adversary or competitor of equal power: The teams were well matched.
17. to encounter as an adversary with equal power.
18. to prove a match for.
19. to unite in marriage; procure a matrimonial alliance for.
20. to toss (coins) into the air and then compare the matching or contrasting sides that land facing up, as for determining the winner of a bet.
21. to match coins with.
v.i.
22. to be equal or suitable: Our talents match.
23. to correspond; be of corresponding size, shape, color, pattern, etc.: These gloves do not match.
24. Archaic. to ally oneself in marriage.
[ bef. 900; ME macche, OE gemaecca mate, fellow ]