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| Date: | 1100-1200 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | matere, from Latin materia 'matter, substance', from mater 'mother' |
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mat‧ter1 S1 W1
1 a subject or situation that you have to think about or deal with COLLOCATIONS COLLOCATIONS 
a serious/important matter a personal/private matter a simple/easy matter (=something that is easy to do) financial/legal/political/religious matters a matter of importance a matter of/for concern a matter for discussion/negotiation/consideration etc be a matter for somebody (to decide) (=be something that a particular person should deal with) be no laughing matter (=something very serious) the heart/crux of the matter (=the most important part of something) raise a matter with somebody (=discuss something with someone) let the matter rest/drop (=decide to stop worrying about something) matters arising from/out of something (=things that come from or are connected with a particular event) the matter at hand/in hand (=the thing you are dealing with now)
SUBJECT/SITUATION
[countable]COLLOCATIONS a serious/important matter a personal/private matter a simple/easy matter (=something that is easy to do) financial/legal/political/religious matters a matter of importance a matter of/for concern a matter for discussion/negotiation/consideration etc be a matter for somebody (to decide) (=be something that a particular person should deal with) be no laughing matter (=something very serious) the heart/crux of the matter (=the most important part of something) raise a matter with somebody (=discuss something with someone) let the matter rest/drop (=decide to stop worrying about something) matters arising from/out of something (=things that come from or are connected with a particular event) the matter at hand/in hand (=the thing you are dealing with now)
2 a situation that you are in or have been describing : 
Maybe some of these suggestions will help to improve matters.Matters can be more easily sorted out once you get to the resort.
matters
[plural]Maybe some of these suggestions will help to improve matters.Matters can be more easily sorted out once you get to the resort. to make matters worse (=used to say that something makes a bad situation worse) The team has lost the last two games and, to make matters worse, two of its best players are injured.
The team has lost the last two games and, to make matters worse, two of its best players are injured. to complicate matters further (=used to say that something makes a complicated situation more complicated) To complicate matters further, the law on this issue has been changed.
To complicate matters further, the law on this issue has been changed.3
MATERIAL
[uncountable]a) HP the material that everything in the universe is made of, including solids, liquids, and gases : particles of matter
particles of matterb) a substance that consists of waste material, solid material etc
waste/solid/organic/vegetable etc matter
c) a yellow or white substance in wounds or next to your eye
4 used when adding more details about what you have just said : 'Have you had many visitors yet?' 'No, as a matter of fact you're the first.' I knew him when we were in college - as a matter of fact we were on the same course. ➔ matter-of-fact
as a matter of fact
spoken'Have you had many visitors yet?' 'No, as a matter of fact you're the first.'I knew him when we were in college - as a matter of fact we were on the same course.5 used to ask or talk about why someone seems worried, unhappy, or ill, why something about a situation seems wrong, or why a machine seems not to be working properly : What's the matter? You look as though you've been crying. 'Is something the matter?' 'Just a headache - I'll be fine in a minute.' You look worried. Is there anything the matter? What's the matter with Bill? What's the matter with your eye? It looks red. I know something's the matter. You're frightened of something. Nothing's the matter, honestly, I'm fine. There was nothing the matter with it (=it was all right) when I lent it to him. She had something the matter with her back.
what's the matter?/something's the matter/nothing's the matter etc
spokenWhat's the matter? You look as though you've been crying.'Is something the matter?' 'Just a headache - I'll be fine in a minute.'You look worried. Is there anything the matter?What's the matter with Bill?What's the matter with your eye? It looks red.I know something's the matter. You're frightened of something.Nothing's the matter, honestly, I'm fine.There was nothing the matter with it (=it was all right) when I lent it to him.She had something the matter with her back.6 used when saying what you think is really true concerning a situation : The truth of the matter is that we don't know exactly how the disease is spread.
the truth/fact of the matter is (that)
spokenThe truth of the matter is that we don't know exactly how the disease is spread. 7 used to say that what you are saying about one thing is also true about something else : Ben never touched beer, or any kind of alcohol for that matter. He's an artist who has never been as well-known here, or for that matter as well-respected, as he has been in the USA.
for that matter
Ben never touched beer, or any kind of alcohol for that matter.He's an artist who has never been as well-known here, or for that matter as well-respected, as he has been in the USA.8 used to say that a situation or action is very different from the one you have just mentioned, and may not be as easy, pleasant etc : She didn't mind seeing him in a group but an intimate dinner in a restaurant was another matter altogether.
be (quite) a different matter
also be (quite) another matter especially British EnglishShe didn't mind seeing him in a group but an intimate dinner in a restaurant was another matter altogether.9 to deal with a problem yourself because other people have failed to deal with it : Local people took matters into their own hands and hired their own security guards.
take matters into your own hands
Local people took matters into their own hands and hired their own security guards.10 used to say that something will definitely happen in the future : It can only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured.
it's only/just a matter of time
It can only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured.11 a situation that is extremely serious or important, especially one in which someone could die : The quality of the ambulance service is a matter of life and death. Can't it wait? It's hardly a matter of life or death, is it?
a matter of life and/or death
The quality of the ambulance service is a matter of life and death.Can't it wait? It's hardly a matter of life or death, is it?12 used to say that people have different opinions about something, especially when you yourself have a negative opinion : Whether or not he is any good as a manager is a matter of opinion.
be a matter of opinion
Whether or not he is any good as a manager is a matter of opinion.13 used to say that different people like different things : I can't say which wine is best - it's a matter of personal taste.
be a matter of (personal) taste/choice/preference
I can't say which wine is best - it's a matter of personal taste.14 to be something that you feel you must or must not do, because of your moral principles : She couldn't take the money. It was a matter of principle.
be a matter of principle
She couldn't take the money. It was a matter of principle.15 used to say that an action involves doing something
be a matter of doing something
be simply/largely/merely etc a matter of doing something Reducing the number of road deaths is not simply a matter of improving roads.
Reducing the number of road deaths is not simply a matter of improving roads.16 only a few seconds, weeks etc : The ambulance arrived in a matter of minutes.
a matter of seconds/weeks/hours etc
The ambulance arrived in a matter of minutes.17 because of a particular belief or quality : He invited her as a matter of courtesy. As a matter of fairness, he should be allowed to give his version of events.
as a matter of something
He invited her as a matter of courtesy.As a matter of fairness, he should be allowed to give his version of events.18 used when you ask or tell someone something that interests you but is not important : Just as a matter of interest, which school did you go to?
as a matter of interest
British English spokenJust as a matter of interest, which school did you go to?19 if something is done or should be done as a matter of urgency, it is done or should be done very soon : That procedure should be streamlined as a matter of urgency.
as a matter of urgency
That procedure should be streamlined as a matter of urgency.20 if something is done as a matter of course or routine, it is the correct and usual thing to do in a particular situation : We will contact your former employer as a matter of course.
as a matter of course/routine
We will contact your former employer as a matter of course.21 used to say that something is true or that something happens whatever the situation is : Feeding a baby is a messy job no matter how careful you are. I'm determined to visit Japan no matter what it costs. He visited her every day no matter the weather.
no matter how/whether/what etc
also no matter the ...Feeding a baby is a messy job no matter how careful you are.I'm determined to visit Japan no matter what it costs.He visited her every day no matter the weather.22 used to say that you will definitely do something : I'll call you tonight, no matter what.
no matter what
spokenI'll call you tonight, no matter what.23 used to say that something is not important and will not affect a situation : 'I'm afraid I forgot to bring a towel.' 'No matter, I've got one you can borrow.'
no matter
spoken formal or old-fashioned'I'm afraid I forgot to bring a towel.' 'No matter, I've got one you can borrow.'24 used to say that something is a fact : It's a matter of fact that the team have not performed as well this season.
it's a matter of fact (that)
It's a matter of fact that the team have not performed as well this season.25 something that is not important or not difficult - used when you really think something is important or difficult : He seemed unworried by the small matter of the war that was in progress. There's the small matter of tonight's game if we are to reach the finals.
the little/small matter of something
spokenHe seemed unworried by the small matter of the war that was in progress.There's the small matter of tonight's game if we are to reach the finals.26 used to say that something is not important and will not affect a situation : I would always be an outsider here - no matter that I spoke fluent Spanish.
no matter that
I would always be an outsider here - no matter that I spoke fluent Spanish.27 things that are written for people to read : As well as textbooks and other printed matter, courses may include video and audio cassettes.
reading/printed etc matter
TCNAs well as textbooks and other printed matter, courses may include video and audio cassettes.