matter

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Noun 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.3.2 Derived terms 1.3.3 Translations 1.4 Verb 1.4.1 Derived terms 1.4.2 Translations

[edit] English

Wikipedia

[edit] Etymology

From Middle English mater, matere from Anglo-Norman matere, materie from Old French materie, matiere from Latin materia (matter, stuff, material), derivative of Latin mater "mother". Displaced native Middle English andweorc, andwork "material, matter" (from Old English andweorc "matter, substance, material"), Old English intinga "matter, affair, business".

[edit] Pronunciation

• (RP) IPA: /ˈmætə/, SAMPA: /"m{t@/
• (GenAm) IPA: /ˈmætɚ/, SAMPA: /"m{t@`/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ætə(r)
• Hyphenation: mat‧ter

[edit] Noun

matter (countable and uncountable; plural matters)

1. (physics) The basic structural component of the universe. Matter usually has mass and volume.
   • 1924: ARISTOTLE. Metaphysics. Translated by W. D. Ross. Nashotah, Wisconsin, USA: The Classical Library, 2001.

     Parmenides seems to fasten on that which is one in definition, Melissus on that which is one in matter,

2. (physics) Matter made up of normal particles, not antiparticles. (Non-antimatter matter).
3. A kind of substance.

   vegetable matter

4. A reason for concern; being amiss.

   What's the matter?

5. A situation.

   a trivial matter

6. A cause.

   a matter for concern

7. Written material (especially in books or magazines)

   He always took some reading matter with him on the plane

8. (neurology) Gray and white matter are the two nerve tissue types that comprise the brain and spinal cord.

[edit] Synonyms

• material
• stuff
• substance

[edit] Derived terms

[edit] Translations

[edit] Verb

to matter (third-person singular simple present matters, present participle mattering, simple past and past participle mattered)

1. (intransitive) To be important.

   The only thing that matters to Jim is being rich.

   Sorry for pouring ketchup on your clean white shirt! - Oh, don't worry, it does not matter.

2. (transitive, obsolete except dialectal) To care about, to mind; to find important.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society 1973, p. 47:

     Besides, if it had been out of doors I had not mattered it so much; but with my own servant, in my own house, under my own roof [...]

[edit] Derived terms

• it doesn't matter
• no matter - In spite of

[edit] Translations