Search results for 'matter':

matter noun 1 the substance from which all physical things are made; material. 2 material of a particular kind • vegetable matter • reading matter. 3 a subject or topic; a concern, affair or question • if it's a matter of money • matters of principle. 4 with negatives importance, significance or consequence • something of no matter. 5 content, as distinct from style or form. 6 printing, publishing a material to be printed; b type that has been set. 7 (usually a matter of something) a an approximate quantity or amount of (time, etc) • I'll be there in a matter of minutes; b used in saying what is involved or necessary • It's just a matter of asking her to do it. 8 (the matter or the matter with someone or something) something that is wrong; the trouble or difficulty • What is the matter? • I don't know what is the matter with him. 9 medicine pus or discharge. verb (mattered, mattering) 1 intrans to be important or significant • Your health is what matters. 2 to secrete or discharge pus. a matter of form an official procedure or conventional etiquette. a matter of opinion something about which different people have different opinions. as a matter of course as something that one expects automatically to happen or be done, etc. as a matter of fact in fact; actually. for that matter used when referring to some alternative or additional possibility, etc: as far as that is concerned • I could leave it until tomorrow, or until next week, for that matter. no matter it is not important; it makes no difference. no matter how, what or where, etc regardless of how or what, etc • I'm leaving, no matter what you say.
ETYMOLOGY: 13c: French, from Latin materia subject or substance.