matter

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[edit] Etymology

From Latin materia (matter, stuff, material), derivative of Latin mater (mother).

[edit] Pronunciation

[edit] Noun

Singular
matter

Plural
countable and uncountable; plural matters

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

[edit] Derived terms

Terms derived from the noun "matter"

[edit] Translations

basic structural component of the universe
non-antimatter matter
kind of substance
reason for concern
situation
cause
neurology: nerve tissue type
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Help:How to check translations.
Translations to be checked

[edit] Verb

Infinitive
to matter

Third person singular
matters

Simple past
mattered

Past participle
mattered

Present participle
mattering

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

[edit] Translations

to be important
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