865
mat·a·dor /'mætədɔ:r/ n the
man who kills the BULL in a
BULLFIGHT ➔ compare PICA-
DOR
Ma·ta Ha·ri /ˌmɑ:tə 'hɑ:ri/
(1876–1917) a Dutch dancer
and member of the German
secret service in Paris during
World War I, who obtained
military secrets from ALLIED
army officers of high rank.
She was tried in court and
shot by the French. She is
often considered to be a
good example of an attrac-
tive woman that men can-
not refuse to please.
match¹ /mætʃ/ n 1 [C] espe-
cially BrE a game or sports event where teams or people
compete: a football match ➔ see RECREATION (USAGE), TENNIS
(USAGE) 2 [S(for)] a person who is equal to or better than
another in strength, ability etc: I'm no match for her when it
comes to arithmetic. | He was very good at tennis, but he met
his match (=was beaten) when he played the cham-
pion. 3 [S(for)] a thing that is like another or is suitable to be
put together with another, especially by having a similar
colour or pattern: We can't find a match for this ornament. |
The hat and shoes are a perfect match. 4 [C usually sing.]
especially old use a) a possible husband or wife: My son would
be a good match for your daughter. b) a marriage of the
stated kind: Both her daughters made good matches.
match² v 1 a) [I(UP);T] to be like or suitable for use with
(another or each other), especially in colour or pattern: The
curtains don't match the paint. | The curtains and the paint
don't quite match. | a matching skirt and sweater b) [T(UP)]
to find something like or suitable for use with: I'm trying to
match this yellow wool. 2 a) [T(in, for)] to be equal to or find
an equal for: His latest film doesn't match his previous ones. |
This hotel can't be matched for (=provides excellent) service
and food. b) [(to)] to make equal or suitable: to match one's
spending to one's income 3 well-/ill-matched (of a pair)
suitable/not suitable to be with, or to compete with, each
other: a well-matched husband and wife | The two boxers
aren't very well matched. (=one is much better than the
other)
match sbdy./sthg. against sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] to cause to
compete against: Ann will be matched against Jane in the
semifinal.
match up to/with sthg. phr v [T] to be as good as (some-
thing expected): It wasn't a bad holiday, but the weather
didn't match up to our hopes.
match³ n a short thin stick, usually of wood, with a special
substance covering one end which burns when the end is
struck against a rough surface: She lit her cigarette with a
match. | to strike a match | a box/book of matches ➔ see also
SAFETY MATCH
match·book /'mætʃbʊk/ n a small, folded piece of heavy
paper which contains paper matches. In the US, match-
books often contain advertising and are given away free by
businesses.
match·box /'mætʃbɒks||-bɑ:ks/ n a small box in which
matches are sold, with rough material along one or both
sides on which to strike them
'match·fit adj [A] BrE (of a sports player) well and fit enough
to play ➔ match·fitness n [U] A question mark still hangs
over Beckham's match·fitness.
match·less /'mætʃləs/ adj fml or lit which has no equal in
quality: her matchless beauty —ly adv
match·mak·er /'mætʃˌmeɪkər/ n a person who tries to
arrange marriages or relationships, for example by introduc-
ing people to each other at social events ➔ making n [U]
Match of the 'Day a British television programme on BBC
on a Saturday night which shows HIGHLIGHTS (=the most
exciting parts) of important football games played on that
day
'match·play n [S] a method of scoring in golf based on the
number of holes that are won, rather than the number of
STROKES needed to reach each hole
'match point n [C;U] the situation in a game, especially
tennis, when one player will win the match if he/she gains
the next point
match·stick /'mætʃˌstɪk/ n a single MATCH especially one
that has been used
match·wood /'mætʃwʊd/ n [U] small thin pieces of wood:
The impact splintered the thin walls to matchwood.
mate¹ /meɪt/ n 1 (often in comb.) a friend, or person one works
with: Her mates/workmates/schoolmates waited for her by the
gate. | He's a mate of mine. ➔ see also RUNNING MATE, SOUL
MATE 2 one of a male–female pair, usually of animals: The
male hunts for food while his mate guards the nest. 3 (not in
the navy) a ship's officer next in rank below the captain: the
first mate 4 BrE & AustrE infml (a friendly way of addressing a
man, used especially by working men): 'What time is it, mate?'
➔ see also MATEY 5 someone who works with and helps
the stated kind of skilled workman: a builder's/plumber's
mate
mate² v [I;T(with)] to become or make into a pair, especially of
animals, for the production of young: Birds mate in the
spring, the mating season. | They mated a horse with a
donkey.
mate³ n, v CHECKMATE¹˒²
ma·té /'mæteɪ/ n [U] a kind of tea made from the leaves and
stems of a South American plant
ma·ter /'meɪtər, 'mɑ:‑||'meɪ‑/ n BrE (sometimes cap.) mother.
The word was formerly used by young UPPER-CLASS people,
especially boys at PUBLIC SCHOOL; now rarely used except
humorously: I'll have to ask Mater. ➔ compare PATER
ma·te·ri·al¹ /mə'tɪəriəl/ n 1 [C;U] anything from which
something is or can be made; natural or man-made sub-
stance: What kind of material is the bridge made of? | Rubber
is a hard-wearing material. | Building materials are
expensive. | writing materials, such as paper and pens | (fig.)
He's excellent officer material. (=a good enough soldier to
become an officer) 2 [C;U] cloth: a few metres of dress
material ➔ see CLOTHES (USAGE) 3 [U (for)] information from
which a (written) work is to be produced: She's collecting
material for a book.
material² adj 1 a) of or having an effect on real or solid
matter or substance, not spirit: The storm did a great deal of
material damage. (=damaged buildings, property etc) b) of
the body, rather than the mind or soul; physical: Food is a
material need. 2 [A] important and having a wide effect;
SIGNIFICANT: a material change in our plans 3 [ (to)] having
an important connection; RELEVANT: facts material to the
investigation ➔ opposite IMMATERIAL —ly adv
ma·te·ri·al·ism /mə'tɪəriəlɪzəm/ n [U] 1 especially derog
(too) great interest in and desire for possessions, money etc,
rather than spiritual matters, art etc 2 tech the belief that
only matter exists, and that there is no world of the spirit ➔
compare IDEALISM —istic /ˌmɑːtɪəriə'lɪstɪk/ adj: our mate-
rialistic society —istically /kli/ adv
ma·te·ri·al·ist /mə'tɪəriəlɪst/ n 1 a person who believes
that human actions are governed by the wish to gain things
for oneself 2 a person who believes in MATERIALISM
—materialist, materialistic /ˌmɑːtɪəriə'lɪstɪk/ adj
ma·te·ri·al·ize also -ise BrE /mə'tɪəriəlaɪz/ v 1 [I;T] to
(cause to) begin to have physical form; appear: The shape of
a man materialized out of the shadows. | The magician
appeared to materialize the rabbit from thin air! | (fig.) I'd
arranged to meet him at seven, but he never materialized. (=he
did not come to meet me) 2 [I] (of something planned or
expected) to become real or actual: He always wanted a large
family, but his hopes never materialized. —ization
/ˌmɑːtɪəriəlaɪ'zeɪʃən||-la-/ n [U]
ma·ter·nal /mə'tɜ:rn||-ɜ:r-/ adj 1 of, like, or natural to a
mother: her maternal feelings/instincts | maternal love ➔
compare MOTHERLY 2 [A] related to a person through the
mother's side of the family: my maternal grandfather (=my
mother's father) ➔ compare PATERNAL —ly adv
ma·ter·ni·ty¹ /mə'tɜ:rni||-ɜ:r-/ n [U] 1 fml the state of
being a mother: Maternity suits you! ➔ compare PATER-
NITY 2 a hospital department for the care of women before