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matter-of-'fact adj concerned with facts, not imagination or feelings; practical: He talked about his experiences as a prisoner of war in a very matter-of-fact way. —•ly adv —•ness n [U]
Mat-thew, Saint /'mæɵju:/ one of Jesus Christ's DISCIPLES (=his close friends and followers). He is believed to have been a tax collector and to have written The Gospel according to St Matthew, which describes the life and teaching of Jesus.
Mat-thews, Sir Stanley /'mæɵju:z/ (1915-2000) a British football player, considered one of the greatest English players ever, who played for the English national team 54 times. He played professional football for 33 years, until he was over 50.
mat-ting /'mætɪŋ/ n [U] rough material for making mats: coconut matting
mat-tins, matins /'mætɪnzɪl'mætɪnz/ n [U+sing./pl. v] (often cap.) MORNING PRAYER
mat-tress /'mætrəs/ n the part of a bed that one lies on, consisting of a strong cloth cover filled with soft material or springs: I'll have to get a new mattress for my bed - the springs have gone in this one.
ma.tu.ra-ˈtion /ˌmætə'reɪən/ n [U] the process or time of becoming mature
ma•ture¹ /mə'tʃʊə/ adj 1 a) fully grown and developed b) apprec having or typical of a fully developed mind; sensible and reasonable: She's very mature for her age. | a mature attitude → opposite IMMATURE; see ADOLESCENT, ADULT 2 (of cheese, wine etc) old enough to be ready to be eaten or drunk 3 fml carefully decided, after a time of thought: On mature reflection I've decided to go by train. 4 tech (of a bill) ready to be paid 5 older than the usual age for something: The Centre offers the mature learner opportunities to develop new skills. —•ly adv
ma•ture² v [I;T] to (cause to) become mature: After six years, the wine will have matured.
ma.ture 'student n BrE a student at a university or college who is aged over 21
CULTURAL NOTE: It has become fairly common for people to go to university or college after having worked for some years or after their children have grown up. Most universities and colleges encourage them and some run special courses to help them learn to study.
ma-tu-ri-ty /mə'tʃʊərətɪʃl; ti/ n [U] the state or time of being mature
maud-lin /'mɔːdlɪn/ adj stupidly sad, especially when drunk
Maugham, Somerset /mɔːm/ (1874-1965) a British writer of novels, and especially short stories, who is considered to be one of the best short story writers in English. His best-known novels include Of Human Bondage and The Moon and Sixpence. Several of his stories have been made into films.
maul /mɔːl/ v [T] 1 (especially of animals) to hurt badly by tearing the flesh: The hunter was mauled by a lion. 2 to handle roughly or in an unwelcome way: If you don't stop mauling me (=handling me roughly in a sexual way) I'll slap your face! | (fig.) His speech sounded quite different when the newspapers had mauled it (about).
Mau Mau, the /'mau mau/ a secret political organization which was started in Kenya in 1952 by the Kikuyu people, and which wanted Kenya to become independent from the UK. It used violence against Europeans whom it wanted to leave Kenya and against Africans who supported the British.
maun-der /'mɔːndə/ v [I (ON about)] often derog to talk in an unclear and usually complaining way
Maun-dy mon-ey /'mɔːndɪ ,mʌn/ n [U] specially made coins given each year to poor people by the British queen or king in a traditional ceremony on Maundy Thursday, which is the Thursday before EASTER
Maun-dy Thurs-day /ˌmɔːndɪ 'ɵɜːzdeɪ/ n [U] the Thursday before Easter
Mau-pas-sant, Guy de /'məupəsɒn ,məupə'sɑːn/ (1850-93) a French writer who wrote hundreds of short stories, and is considered to be one of the best short story writers ever
Mau-riac, François /'mɔːrɪæk ,məʊrɪ'a:k frɔːnswa: ˈlfrɔ:n'swɑː/ (1885-1970) a French writer of novels who won the NOBEL PRIZE for literature in 1952
Mau-ri-ta-ni-a /ˌmɔːrɪ'teɪniəˈmɔːr-/ a country in northwest Africa on the Atlantic coast. Population 2,912,584 (2003). Capital: Nouakchott. —Mauritanian n, adj
Mauritius /məˈrɪʃəsˈmɔː-/ a island and country in the Indian Ocean, which is a member of the British COMMON-WEALTH. Population 1,210,447 (2003). Capital: Port Louis. It is a popular place for tourists, especially wealthy tourists. —Mauritian n, adj
mau-so-le-um /'mɔːsəliːəm/ a large, often decorative stone building built over a grave or containing many graves; an important-looking TOMB
mauve /məʊv/ adj having a pale purple colour —mauve n [U]
ma-ven /'meɪvən/ n AmE a person who knows a lot about a stated subject: a cultural/Chinese-food maven
mav-e-rick /'mævərɪk/ n derog in BrE someone, especially a politician, who is determined to be different or act differently from the rest of their group
maw /mɔː/ n 1 an animal's throat or stomach 2 something which seems to swallow things up: money disappearing into the maw of the national budget
mawk-ish /'mɔːkɪʃ/ adj (of people or behaviour) expressing love and admiration in a silly perhaps false way —•ly adv
—-ness n [U]
max /mæks/ adj, n [U] infml for MAXIMUM: We enjoyed the party to the max.
Max 'Factor trademark a company that produces COSMETICS which are popular all over the world
max-im /'mæksɪm/ n a short saying that expresses a general truth or a rule for good and sensible behaviour: 'Waste not, want not is her favourite maxim.
max-i-mal /'mæksɪməl/ adj fml as great as possible: of maximal educational value → compare MINIMAL —•ly adv
max-i-mize also -mise BrE /'mæksɪmaɪz/ v [T] to increase to the greatest possible size or amount: We must maximize output/our chances of success. → compare MINIMIZE -mization /ˌmæksɪmaɪ'zeɪʃən -sɪ'mə-/ n [U]
Max-im's /'mæksɪmz/ trademark a famous restaurant and NIGHTCLUB in Paris, France which is expensive and is thought of as a place where rich and famous people go
max-i-mum /'mæksɪməm/ adj, n pl. -ma /-mə/ or -mums [A (of); C] (being) the largest number, amount etc: What's the maximum amount of wine you're allowed to take through customs duty-free? | maximum speed/depth | He smokes (up to) a maximum of ten cigarettes a day. | Let me drive - you're over the maximum. (=have more alcohol in your blood than is allowed by law when driving) → compare MINIMUM
Max-well, James Clerk /'mækswel/ (1831-79) a British scientist who made important discoveries in ELECTROMAGNETISM, which made possible the development of radio and telephones
Max-well, Rob-ert /'rɒbət'rɑːbərt/ (1923-91) a British businessman, born in Czechoslovakia, who owned several newspapers and book publishing (PUBLISH) companies, including MIRROR GROUP NEWSPAPERS. He died suddenly and mysteriously, when he fell into the water from his boat. After his death it was discovered that he had large debts, and had been stealing from the Mirror Group PENSION FUND (=money collected from employees to provide an income for them when they are old and have stopped working).
Max-well 'Davies, Sir Peter (1934-) a British COMPOSER of modern CLASSICAL music. His works include Eight Songs for a Mad King and An Orkney Wedding with Sunrise.
Max-well 'House trademark a popular type of INSTANT coffee (=coffee in the form of powder, which is ready to drink when boiling water is added)
may /meɪ/ v 3rd person sing. may, negative short form (especially BrE) mayn't [modal; -v¹) 1 (used to show possibility) to be perhaps likely to: He may come or he he may not. | Why hasn't he come?' He may have missed the train.' (=perhaps he has missed it; we still do not know) | He may have stopped to talk to someone - that's why he isn't here. | We will do whatever may be necessary. → compare MIGHT 2 to have permission to; be allowed to (now less common than can): 'May I come in?' 'Yes, you may. | May I leave this with you'? | I may say I find your questions rather rude. (=I think they are rude) | May I give you a hand with the dishes? → compare MIGHT¹ 3 fml (used when