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matter definition

mat·ter (matər)

noun

  1. what a thing is made of; constituent substance or material
  2. what all (material) things are made of; whatever occupies space and is perceptible to the senses in some way: in modern physics, matter and energy are regarded as equivalents, mutually convertible according to Einstein's formula, E = mc (i.e., energy equals mass multiplied by the square of the velocity of light); in dualistic thinking, matter is regarded as the opposite of mind, spirit, etc.
  3. any specified sort of substance coloring matter
  4. material of thought or expression; what is spoken or written, regarded as distinct from how it is spoken or written; content, as distinguished from manner, style, or form
  5. an amount or quantity, usually indefinite a matter of a few days
    1. something that is the subject of discussion, concern, action, etc.; thing or affair business matters
    2. cause, occasion, or grounds no matter for jesting
  6. the body of heroic stories and legends, as contained in a folk epic, regarded as central to a culture or literature the King Arthur stories make up the matter of Britain
    1. an important affair; thing of some moment or significance
    2. importance; moment; significance it's of no matter
  7. an unfavorable state of affairs; trouble; difficulty: with the something seems to be the matter
  8. documents, letters, etc. sent, or to be sent, by mail; mail second-class matter
  9. a substance discharged by the body; specif., pus
  10. Law something that is to be proved
  11. Philos. that which has yet to take on form; undifferentiated substance of reality or experience
  12. Printing
    1. written material prepared, or to be prepared, for printing; copy
    2. copy ready to be printed

Etymology: ME matiere < OFr < L materia, material, stuff, wood (< base of mater, mother), orig., the growing trunk of a tree

intransitive verb

  1. to be of importance or consequence; have significance the things that matter to one
  2. to form and discharge pus; suppurate
matter Idioms

as a matter of fact

for that matter

in regard to that; as far as that is concerned

no matter

  1. it is of no importance
  2. regardless of

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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Matter of business23 months ago
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