match-upn.
/ˈmatʃʌp/, U.S. /ˈmætʃˌəp/ U.S.
1. The action or process of matching things up; the act of bringing together two or more complementary or corresponding things; (also) a selected combination of people or things.
ΚΠ
1922 Richwood (Ohio) Gaz. 16 Mar. 3/5 (advt.) Matchup of the strips can be made without driving on manured ground.
1939 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 8 Sept. 5/3 (advt.) Perfect for that dash to classes..A skirt and jacket match-up to wear with or without blouses.
1975 Business Week 14 Apr. 54/3 ‘Imagine the matchups at the trading post,’ says the arbitrageur. ‘A million shares on the sell side, 10,000 on the buy side.’
1993 Esquire Nov. 54/1 The matchups of flavors are ideal, the portions are generous.
1997 Chicago Tribune 6 Apr. vii. 4/2 A really weird matchup: Jean-Claude Van Damme, Mickey Rourke, Dennis Rodman and Hong-Kong action ace Tsui Hark.
2. Sport. A sporting contest arranged between two players or teams; a situation in which two specific players directly oppose one another. Also: (Basketball) a form of defence similar to zone defence but incorporating aspects of man-to-man defence. Also in extended use.
ΘΚΠ
society > leisure > sport > match or competition > [noun] > types of
all comersc1450
after-gamea1500
fore-game1594
revenge1616
plate1639
set-to1743
return match1753
bye1754
scrub-race1791
anybody's game (also race, match)1826
return1834
barney1843
bonspiel1858
handicap1861
pennant1865
home-and-home1868
benefit match1871
run-off1873
international1877
American tournament1878
Grand Prix1879
single1884
friendly1885
all-comers1889
pair1890
championship1893
round robin1894
replay1895
Olympiad1896
junior varsity1902
lightning tournament1903
rematch1903
road trip1903
pickup1905
freestyle1906
marathon1908
test1908
Derby1909
scrimmage1910
eliminator1911
twosome1911
triala1914
quadrangular1916
slug-fest1916
varsity match1921
needle contest1922
curtain jerker1923
needle match1923
open1926
needle fight1927
knock-out1928
shirt1930
masters1933
pro-amateur1934
tune-up1934
World Cup1934
pro-am1937
state1941
sizzler1942
runathon1943
mismatch1954
run-out1955
match-up1959
squeaker1961
triple-header1961
Super Bowl1967
invitational1968
needle game1970
major1976
slobberknocker1986
society > leisure > sport > player or sportsperson > [verb (transitive)] > assign players of equal strength to each other
match-up1959
1959 F. McGuire Defensive Basketball viii. 212 Many a game has been won by careful match-ups. While striving for good match-ups defensively, it is also smart to try to force the opponents into bad match-ups.
1969 R. M. Davis Aggressive Basketball vi. 121 The match-up is a very effective defense to use when an offensive team shifts to a zone offense from a man-to-man defense.
1979 Tucson (Arizona) Citizen 20 Sept. 10 a/1 With a lively race for mayor, there should be a healthy spillover effect on three potentially close council match-ups.
1993 Discover Feb. 17 What was the greatest heavyweight matchup of all time? Ali vs. Frazier?
1997 Newsweek 13 Jan. 57/1 By the end of the week, Irvin and Williams were preparing to fly off with the team for its second-round matchup with Carolina.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1922