MATCH

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does match mean? 

• MATCH (noun)
  The noun MATCH has 9 senses:

1. lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction

2. a formal contest in which two or more persons or teams compete

3. a burning piece of wood or cardboard

4. an exact duplicate

5. the score needed to win a match

6. a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect

7. a person who is of equal standing with another in a group

8. a pair of people who live together

9. something that resembles or harmonizes with

  Familiarity information: MATCH used as a noun is familiar.

• MATCH (verb)
  The verb MATCH has 9 senses:

1. be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

2. provide funds complementary to

3. bring two objects, ideas, or people together

4. be equal to in quality or ability

5. make correspond or harmonize

6. give or join in marriage

7. set into opposition or rivalry

8. be equal or harmonize

9. make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching

  Familiarity information: MATCH used as a verb is familiar.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MATCH (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

friction match; lucifer; match

Context example:

as long you've a lucifer to light your fag

Hypernyms ("match" is a kind of...):

igniter; ignitor; light; lighter (a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires)

Meronyms (parts of "match"):

matchstick (a short thin stick of wood used in making matches)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "match"):

kitchen match (a wooden friction match that will light on any granular surface; useful to light wood or gas stoves)

book matches; safety match (a paper match that strikes only on a specially prepared surface)

slow match (match or fuse made to burn slowly and evenly)

fusee; fuzee (a friction match with a large head that will stay alight in the wind)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A formal contest in which two or more persons or teams compete

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Hypernyms ("match" is a kind of...):

competition; contest (an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "match"):

quarterfinal (one of the four competitions in an elimination tournament whose winners go on to play in the semifinals)

wrestling match (a match between wrestlers)

match game; matched game; test match (an international championship match)

tennis match (a match between tennis players)

swimming event (an athletic competition that involves swimming)

semi; semifinal (one of the two competitions in the next to the last round of an elimination tournament)

final (the final match between the winners of all previous matches in an elimination tournament)

field event (a competition that takes place on a field rather than on a running track)

diving; diving event (an athletic competition that involves diving into water)

cricket match (a match between two cricket teams)

cockfight (a match in a cockpit between two fighting cocks heeled with metal gaffs)

chess match (a match between chess players)

boxing match (a match between boxers; usually held in a boxing ring)

Derivation:

match (set into opposition or rivalry)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A burning piece of wood or cardboard

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Context example:

if you drop a match in there the whole place will explode

Hypernyms ("match" is a kind of...):

igniter; ignitor; light; lighter (a device for lighting or igniting fuel or charges or fires)

Sense 4

Meaning:

An exact duplicate

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

match; mate

Context example:

when a match is found an entry is made in the notebook

Hypernyms ("match" is a kind of...):

duplicate; duplication (a copy that corresponds to an original exactly)

Derivation:

match (be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The score needed to win a match

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("match" is a kind of...):

score (a number that expresses the accomplishment of a team or an individual in a game or contest)

Sense 6

Meaning:

A person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

catch; match

Hypernyms ("match" is a kind of...):

adult; grownup (a fully developed person from maturity onward)

Derivation:

match (bring two objects, ideas, or people together)

match (give or join in marriage)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A person who is of equal standing with another in a group

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

compeer; equal; match; peer

Hypernyms ("match" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "match"):

replacement; successor (a person who follows next in order)

townsman (a person from the same town as yourself)

backup; backup man; fill-in; relief; reliever; stand-in; substitute (someone who takes the place of another (as when things get dangerous or difficult))

coeval; contemporary (a person of nearly the same age as another)

associate (a person who joins with others in some activity or endeavor)

gangsta ((Black English) a member of a youth gang)

Holonyms ("match" is a member of...):

peer group (contemporaries of the same status)

Derivation:

match (be equal to in quality or ability)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A pair of people who live together

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

couple; match; mates

Context example:

a married couple from Chicago

Hypernyms ("match" is a kind of...):

family; family unit (primary social group; parents and children)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "match"):

power couple (a couple both of whom have high-powered careers or are politically influential)

DINK (a couple who both have careers and no children (an acronym for dual income no kids))

Derivation:

match (bring two objects, ideas, or people together)

match (give or join in marriage)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Something that resembles or harmonizes with

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

that tie makes a good match with your jacket

Hypernyms ("match" is a kind of...):

counterpart; opposite number; vis-a-vis (a person or thing having the same function or characteristics as another)

Derivation:

match (be equal or harmonize)

match (make correspond or harmonize)

• MATCH (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

agree; check; correspond; fit; gibe; jibe; match; tally

Context example:

The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun

Hypernyms (to "match" is one way to...):

be; equal (be identical or equivalent to)

Verb group:

accord; agree; concord; consort; fit in; harmonise; harmonize (go together)

check; check out (be verified or confirmed; pass inspection)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "match"):

rhyme; rime (be similar in sound, especially with respect to the last syllable)

adhere (be compatible or in accordance with)

pattern (form a pattern)

accord; agree; concord; consort; fit in; harmonise; harmonize (go together)

befit; beseem; suit (accord or comport with)

homologize (be homologous)

resemble (appear like; be similar or bear a likeness to)

bear out; corroborate; support; underpin (support with evidence or authority or make more certain or confirm)

square (be compatible with)

duplicate; parallel; twin (duplicate or match)

parallel (be parallel to)

correlate (to bear a reciprocal or mutual relation)

align (be or come into adjustment with)

coincide (be the same)

answer (match or correspond)

look (accord in appearance with)

consist (be consistent in form, tenor, or character; be congruous)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

match (an exact duplicate)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Provide funds complementary to

Classified under:

Verbs of buying, selling, owning

Context example:

The company matched the employees' contributions

Hypernyms (to "match" is one way to...):

furnish; provide; render; supply (give something useful or necessary to)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Bring two objects, ideas, or people together

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

couple; match; mate; pair; twin

Context example:

The student was paired with a partner for collaboration on the project

Hypernyms (to "match" is one way to...):

join (cause to become joined or linked)

Verb group:

match (give or join in marriage)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "match"):

mismatch (match badly; match two objects or people that do not go together)

mismate (provide with an unsuitable mate)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

match (a pair of people who live together)

match (a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Be equal to in quality or ability

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Synonyms:

equal; match; rival; touch

Context example:

Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents

Hypernyms (to "match" is one way to...):

compete; contend; vie (compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others)

Verb group:

equal; equalise; equalize; equate; match (make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

match (a person who is of equal standing with another in a group)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Make correspond or harmonize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

fit; match

Context example:

Match my sweater

Hypernyms (to "match" is one way to...):

adjust; correct; set (alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard)

Verb group:

match (be equal or harmonize)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "match"):

balance; equilibrate; equilibrise; equilibrize (bring into balance or equilibrium)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

They match the cape

Derivation:

match (something that resembles or harmonizes with)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Give or join in marriage

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "match" is one way to...):

join (cause to become joined or linked)

Verb group:

couple; match; mate; pair; twin (bring two objects, ideas, or people together)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

match (a pair of people who live together)

match (a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect)

matcher (someone who arranges (or tries to arrange) marriages for others)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Set into opposition or rivalry

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

match; oppose; pit; play off

Context example:

He plays his two children off against each other

Hypernyms (to "match" is one way to...):

confront; face (oppose, as in hostility or a competition)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

match (a formal contest in which two or more persons or teams compete)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Be equal or harmonize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The two pieces match

Hypernyms (to "match" is one way to...):

adapt; adjust; conform (adapt or conform oneself to new or different conditions)

Verb group:

fit; match (make correspond or harmonize)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

match (something that resembles or harmonizes with)

Sense 9

Meaning:

Make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

equal; equalise; equalize; equate; match

Context example:

The company matched the discount policy of its competitors

Hypernyms (to "match" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Verb group:

equal; match; rival; touch (be equal to in quality or ability)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "match"):

homologise; homologize (make homologous)

homogenise; homogenize (cause to become equal or homogeneous as by mixing)

draw; tie (finish a game with an equal number of points, goals, etc.)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

“Not a match did I bring. And now we shall have no hot coffee, soup, tea, or anything!”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He unwrapped his pack and the first thing he did was to count his matches.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

They have journeyed far, sire, but they have never yet found their match.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

The bed was empty. I lit a match and found that she was not in the room.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I thought, as they came towards us, that they were well matched even in that particular.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It has cut us off from travel, and there is nothing to match travel for expanding the mind.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

They were no match at all, were it not for their arrows and spears and clubs.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

My stepfather has offered no opposition to the match, and we are to be married in the course of the spring.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Why should a man hold a match to the side of his pipe?

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

I should strongly recommend you to make your preparations for your match without reference to this young gentleman.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)