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单词 matter
释义
matter1 nounmatter2 verb
mattermat‧ter1 /ˈmætə $ -ər/ ●●● S1 W1 noun Entry menu
MENU FOR mattermatter1 SUBJECT/SITUATION2 matters3 MATERIAL4 as a matter of fact5 what’s the matter?/something’s the matter/nothing’s the matter etc6 the truth/fact of the matter is (that)7 for that matter8 be (quite) a different matter9 take matters into your own hands10 it’s only/just a matter of time11 a matter of life and/or death12 be a matter of opinion13 be a matter of (personal) taste/choice/preference14 be a matter of principle15 be a matter of doing something16 a matter of seconds/weeks/hours etc17 as a matter of something18 as a matter of interest19 as a matter of urgency20 as a matter of course/routine21 no matter how/whether/what etc22 no matter what23 no matter24 it’s a matter of fact (that)25 the little/small matter of something26 no matter that27 reading/printed etc matter
Word Origin
WORD ORIGINmatter1
Origin:
1100-1200 Old French matere, from Latin materia ‘matter, substance’, from mater ‘mother’
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • Dietary fibre makes waste matter from the food we eat pass through our bodies quickly.
  • Foreign affairs were not the only matters we discussed.
  • In order to decompose, all vegetable matter needs supplies of nitrogen.
  • Rick wasn't particularly interested in financial matters.
  • The matter is being argued and discussed in families up and down the country.
  • The first item on the agenda today is the matter of public transportation.
  • the forces exerted between particles of matter
  • They are investigating an area of space that contains more than the usual amount of matter.
  • This meeting is being held to deal with the serious matter of possible racism in our hiring practices.
  • We should discuss the matter ourselves.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • A foggy reading of foggy matter.
  • His maudlin drunkenness was not helping matters.
  • I agree with the hon. Gentleman on this matter.
  • I appeal to you, Mr. Speaker, to allow us to have a debate on this matter today.
  • Lovelock's own position on the continuum has been a matter of great interest.
  • No matter how it worked, the idea raises ethical concerns for the medical profession, two physician-legislators said.
  • Nobody ever treats me right, no matter how hard I try.
  • These matters can be tackled in the laboratory. 2 Contamination during or after sampling.
Thesaurus
THESAURUSa solid or liquid substance
noun [countable, uncountable] a substance, especially one that can be used for making things: · building materials· The island has to import oil and other raw materials (=materials used for making things).· radioactive material
noun [countable] a type of material such as a chemical or a mineral: · The green colour of the leaf is due to a substance called chlorophyll.· Dioxin is one of the most toxic substances known to man.
noun [uncountable] formal a type of substance – used especially in the following phrases: · waste matter from the body· It is important to add plenty of organic matter to the soil.· People throw away lots of vegetable matter.
noun [uncountable] informal a substance – used especially when you do not know exactly what it is: · What’s that sticky stuff on the floor?
Longman Language Activatorany one of the people in a group or in the world
use this to talk about each person in a group of people when it is not important to say exactly which one: any/man/child/teacher etc: · Ask any teacher and they'll tell you I'm right.· Any student who wishes to go on the trip should sign this list.any of the men/their children/my teachers etc: · Have any of the guests arrived?· Jan decided not to invite any of her relatives to her graduation.any of you/them/us: · Have any of you seen my glasses?
· Don't worry about it. It can happen to anybody.· Did anyone call while I was out?· If anybody needs more information, come and see me after class.· Sarah liked him more than anyone else she knew.· This would be an ideal job for anyone who speaks French and Italian.
informal anyone in the world, used especially when you mean that you should be more careful about who you choose or allow to do something: · Any Tom, Dick, or Harry could have written something just as good.· If you don't have someone at the door, any Tom, Dick or Harry could turn up at the party and walk straight in.
any person -- use this when the identity of the person is not important or is not known: · Whoever you ask, you will get the same answer.· Sam wanted to feel that others, no matter who they were, agreed with him.· If someone comes to your door you should always ask for some form of identification, no matter who they say they are.
if you say that any fool or any idiot can do something, you mean that anyone can do it because it is extremely easy, and if someone cannot do it they must be very stupid: · Any fool could see that the child was unhappy.
to say that you are annoyed or not satisfied about something
to say that you are annoyed and not satisfied about something or someone: · We had to remove the advertisement because so many people complained.· Residents are complaining because traffic in the area has increased.complain about: · Their neighbours complained about their constant loud music.complain that: · Jenny's always complaining that her boss gives her too much work.complain to: · If the hotel isn't satisfactory, you should complain to the Tourist Office.constantly complain: · He constantly complains about how he's treated at work.complain bitterly (=complain very strongly): · Workers who had lost their jobs complained bitterly about the way they had been treated.
to formally complain about something to someone in authority: · Write to this address if you wish to make a complaint.make a complaint to: · Parents made a complaint to the principal about bullying in the school.
British /file a complaint American to make an official complaint, usually in writing, to someone in authority: · She went to the city council and lodged a complaint.lodge a complaint with: · The company said it plans to file a complaint with the International Trade Commission.lodge a complaint against: · Conyers said she had been blocked from promotion after filing a complaint against a male co-worker.
to complain about something, especially publicly or officially, because you are annoyed or think it is unfair: · He was carried away in a police van, protesting loudly.protest about: · Passengers protested angrily about increased rail fares.protest to: · The journalists have protested to government officials about the way they were treated.protest (that): · Dan protested it wasn't him who had caused the problems.protest your innocence (=say that you are innocent): · Mills, who has been in prison since 1987, has always protested his innocence.
to say that you do not agree with something or you do not approve of it, because it annoys you or offends you: · "My name's not Sonny," the child objected.object to: · Does anyone object to these proposals?object if: · Will she object if I use her laptop?
to speak or write to someone in authority complaining about something: · I told her she should take it up with her local council.· Alton said he was prepared to take the matter up with the Ministry of Health if necessary.
to talk about the things you are unhappy or annoyed about, especially in public to people in authority so that they can do something about them: · The meeting gave employees an opportunity to air their grievances.· The uprising at Southport prison ended after inmates were allowed to air their grievances to the media.
something wrong with a machine, system, plan etc
something wrong with one of the parts of a machine that prevents it from working properly: · Quality control staff are employed to check for any faults.fault in: · I think there's a fault in one of the loudspeakers.· The fault could be either in the tape or in the VCR.electrical/mechanical/technical etc fault: · The rocket launch was delayed because of a technical fault.
something wrong with a product or machine, especially caused by a mistake in the way it was made or designed: · All the computers are checked for defects before they leave the factory.defect in: · A defect in the braking system caused several accidents before the car was recalled.· Investigators found a defect in the design of the ship.
something that stops a machine or system from working normally: · Please call 5326 if you have any computer problems.problem with: · There seems to be some kind of problem with the heaters.problem in: · Engineers were unable to find the source of the problem in the spacecraft's cooling system.
something wrong with a machine, car etc, especially when you do not know exactly what is causing it: · If you have engine trouble, park as far to the side of the road as possible.have trouble: · If you used the same tape later and had no trouble with the picture, the problem is probably in the VCR.trouble with: · We've been having some trouble with the air-conditioning.the trouble (=the particular thing causing the problem): · I think we've found out what the trouble is.
something wrong with a plan, system, or set of ideas, which may make the whole thing useless or not effective: · His plan seemed foolproof, but I was sure there was a flaw somewhere.· The program has serious weaknesses, and I would avoid using it.flaw/weakness in: · There are several obvious flaws in his argument.· One major weakness in the study is that it is based on a very small sample.
a small problem in a computer or a computer system: · The program suffers from some minor bugs, but is still better than the first version.· Some chips contained a bug that caused computers to crash frequently.
a small fault in the way something works, that can usually be corrected easily: · As the glitches are found and corrected, the process is speeding up.glitch in: · A glitch in the system shut down the telephone service to nearly 6 million customers. technical/mechanical etc glitch: · NASA officials found a way to work around the technical glitch on the Galileo spacecraft.
a set of instructions that someone puts secretly into other people's computers, that can destroy information stored in them or stop them working correctly: · The disk was accidentally infected with a virus called "Stoned III".· Computer users from around the world reported that the virus had invaded their systems.· an anti-virus program
spoken say this when there is a problem in a machine, part of a car etc, but you do not know exactly what it is: · I think there's something wrong with the clutch in my car.· I don't know what's the matter with it, but I can't get it to work.· There are programs that will help you figure out what's wrong with your PC, and help you correct it.
a solid or liquid substance
a type of solid or liquid, such as a chemical, a mineral, or something produced by a plant: · Poisonous substances, such as garden chemicals, should be clearly labelled.· Resin is a dark, sticky substance.· the problem of disposing of radioactive substances· The green colour of the leaf is due to a substance called chlorophyll.
any solid substance that can be used for making things: · Steel is a stronger material than iron.· The company supplies building materials such as bricks and cement.· A layer of insulating material should be placed between the panels and the solid wall.
especially spoken, informal a substance: · What's that sticky stuff on the floor?· Do you have any of that clear plastic stuff to cover food with?
formal any physical substance - used especially in science: · They are investigating an area of space that contains more than the usual amount of matter.· the forces exerted between particles of mattervegetable/organic matter: · In order to decompose, all vegetable matter needs supplies of nitrogen.waste matter: · Dietary fibre makes waste matter from the food we eat pass through our bodies quickly.
to shake your head as a way of saying no
use this when you want to make it clear that nothing will change a situation, your intention etc: no matter how much/many: · I'm determined to go to New York, no matter how much it costs.no matter what/who/when etc: · Paul always calls me every day, no matter where he is.· No matter what position he plays, he'll be a great asset to the team.no matter how good/small/hot etc: · I never win, no matter how hard I try.· Dad was determined to get to the truth, no matter how long it took.
use this when the fact that something is very big, good etc does not change a situation: however much/many: · However much I try, I just don't understand him at all.however however adj/adv: · I could never watch any movie more than once, however good it is.· Each one of us, however old or however young, is a valuable member of society.
used when it is not important what happens, who does something etc, because it does not change the situation or your intention: · "I don't care," Carrie cried, "whatever anyone says!"· We can take a taxi or the bus, whichever comes first.· He's a capable man. I'm sure he can deal with whatever problems arise.· Don't forget, it's your job to support your leader, whoever it is.whichever of somebody/something: · Whichever of the cars you choose, I'm sure you'll be very pleased.
use this when what is done is not affected by different situations, problems etc: regardless of: · The rate of contribution to the pension plan is the same for all employees, regardless of age.regardless of whether/what/who etc: · Many people stick with their banks regardless of whether they offer the best deal.carry on/continue regardless: · It may rain by the end of the day, but we plan to carry on regardless.
use this when the same thing happens in every case without being affected by facts such as age, size, time, or position: · The job is open to anyone with the right qualifications, irrespective of their age.· Justice for all, irrespective of race or class, is everyone's right.irrespective of what/where/who etc: · All children should have access to the latest technology, irrespective of where they live or how much their parents earn.
use this to say that something should be ignored because it does not affect the situation or your intention: never mind that!: · "How do you know so much about Jake anyway?" "Never mind that!"never mind something: · I want this wedding to be perfect, never mind the cost.never mind what/why/when etc: · Never mind what Jalal says, Peter is a trusted member of our community.never mind that: · Never mind that it's late. I need to talk to you now.
use this when you are determined to do something whatever happens: · I'll be there come what may. I promise.· Some people are getting out of the country fast, but my cousin's family has decided to stay, come what may.
what you say to ask someone about a problem
spoken say this when you are asking someone what is causing a problem, for example why they are upset, or why a machine will not work: · What's the matter? You look as if you've been crying.what's wrong/what's the matter with: · What's wrong with the TV?· What was the matter with Daniella yesterday?
spoken informal say this when you are asking someone if there is a problem that they want to talk about: · "Karen, can I talk to you for a minute?" "Sure, what's up?"what's up with somebody? (=say this when someone seems to have a problem): · What's up with Larry today?
spoken say this when you are asking why someone cannot do something or why something will not work: · "I can't finish the last question." "Why? What's the problem?"· What's the problem? Is there something I can do?what's the problem with: · "I can't get my computer to work." "What's the problem with it?"
especially American, spoken say this to ask someone if they are unhappy about something you just said or suggested - use this when you are annoyed and want to be slightly rude: · "Is he going to sleep in your room?" "I think so. Do you have a problem with that?"· "Are you all by yourself?" I said, "Yes." And I wanted to say "you got a problem with that?"
when a situation, problem accident etc is bad
very bad - use this about problems, accidents, illnesses, or crimes: · The recent storms have caused serious damage.· The climbers got into serious difficulties and had to be air-lifted to safety.· In the last two weeks, the situation has become more serious, with riots and strikes spreading across the country.· Violent crime is a serious problem in and around the capital.· The boy was taken to hospital with serious head injuries.
a problem, illness, or accident that is bad is severe, and makes you feel worried: · The pain was really bad.· Paul's off work - he's got a bad cold.· Judy had been in a bad car crash several years before, and was still too nervous to drive.things are bad (=a situation is bad) spoken: · Things are bad in York - some people's houses have been flooded three times.
formal a grave situation or mistake is very serious and worrying because people are in danger and because the situation seems likely to get worse: · The situation is grave -- war now seems inevitable.· The ambassador declared that there would be grave consequences if the hostages were not released.grave danger: · A thick fog descended on the mountain, and I knew that we were in grave danger.grave risk: · There was a grave risk that the operation would leave him partly paralysed.grave mistake/error: · "It would be a grave mistake," said the president, "to ignore the problem, and pretend that it will go away."
a critical situation is very serious and dangerous and might get worse very suddenly - use this especially when people will die if it does not improve: · The situation is said to be critical and the army has been brought in to disperse the mob.· Things are now critical. Hospitals have no medicine, and people are running out of food.be in a critical conditionBritish /be in critical condition American (=so ill or badly injured that you could die): · Eight people were killed and four are still in a critical condition.
a desperate situation or problem is very serious or dangerous, and it does not seem possible that it will improve - use this especially when people will die if it does not improve: · Refugees on the border are living in appalling conditions with desperate shortages of food, medicine and water.· The situation was desperate. The enemy were now only a mile away.be in desperate need of something: · The hospital is full of people in desperate need of medical attention.
an acute illness, problem, or situation is one that has become very serious or dangerous, and needs to be dealt with quickly: · She was taken to the hospital suffering from acute appendicitis.· Patients suffering from acute depression may well need medication.· Nowhere is the problem more acute than Los Angeles County, where gang-related homicide is on the increase.· In San Diego, the shortage of skilled workers is acute.
a situation or piece of news that is grim is serious and unpleasant, and people think it will not get better: · The situation is grim for the innocent people, caught up in this conflict.· Rescue workers are continuing the grim task of searching for bodies.grim news: · The next few weeks brought more grim news, as the economic crisis began to deepen. grim prospect (=something bad that will probably happen): · Two thousand car workers face the grim prospect of redundancy.things look grim (=the situation seems grim): · Things look pretty grim for farmers at the moment.
spoken use this to say that something is serious and not something you should joke about: · Getting up for work at 5am every day is no laughing matter, especially in winter.· English teachers often joked that they could not pass the exam, but for the students it was no laughing matter.
if a situation is a matter of life and death , it is very serious, and what you do will affect whether the situation ends well or not - use this especially when it is possible that someone will die: · People grow their own food, and the success of their harvest is literally a matter of life or death.· In this town football isn't just a game - it's a matter of life and death.
informal if you say that a situation or event is no joke , it is difficult or unpleasant: · It's no joke if you have an accident in the mountains -- it's fifty miles to the nearest hospital.· Crossing the road was no joke with all the early morning traffic.
something you talk about, write about etc
something that is talked about or written about, for example at a meeting, in an article, or in a conversation: · I read a lot of books about astronomy. It's a very interesting subject.· We talked about all sorts of subjects.· Bottle-collecting even has a website devoted to the subject. the subject of crime/politics/animal rights etc (=crime etc as a subject): · Until about 20 years ago, the subject of the environment was hardly discussed.on the subject (of something) (=about a particular subject): · The first book on the subject was published in 1900.· He has very little to say on the subject of the accusations made against him.change the subject (=start talking about something different): · I could see John was embarrassed, so I changed the subject.drop the subject (=to stop talking about something): · This is getting us nowhere. Let's just drop the subject, okay?
what is being talked about, or what a film, book, play etc is about: · There has been no attempt to arrange the books according to subject matter.· Sagan published a book relating to the subject matter in his TV show. · 'The People versus Larry Flynt' was given an '18' certificate because it contains adult subject matter.
a subject that people often discuss or write about, in books, newspapers, at school etc: · The rise of Islam is a popular topic these days.· Type the topic into the search field, and let the browser search all relevant sites.· Dole's absence was the topic of radio talk shows.
especially spoken something that people talk about or think about: · The first thing we have to discuss is the price.· The only thing she ever talks about is her boyfriend.· We talked about the old days and other things.
an important subject that people discuss and argue about: · We'll be looking at a broad range of important issues in this chapter.· Genetic manipulation is a fairly topical issue these days.· a book dealing with environmental issuesissue of: · the issue of drugs in sportsmajor/big/key/main issue (=a very important issue): · Global warming and youth crime are the key issues in the election campaign.
a difficult subject or problem that has often been discussed but still needs to be solved: · The real question here is how can we integrate asylum seekers into communities.· How can we best help less developed countries? That's the really important question.question of: · In the 1980s the question of whether photography was an art went to court.raise a question (=make people consider a problem): · These operations can save lives, but they raise difficult questions about animal rights.
a subject that people disagree about or are concerned about, and that needs to be considered and discussed in order to deal with it: · The matter is being argued and discussed in families up and down the country.· Foreign affairs were not the only matters we discussed.· This meeting is being held to deal with the serious matter of possible racism in our hiring practices.matter of: · The first item on the agenda today is the matter of public transportation.
an important idea that appears several times in a book, film etc, and slowly influences the way it develops: · One of the themes of the book is the relationship between people and nature.· George Eliot shows real concern for religious and moral themes. · The play's central theme is greed and its corrupting effects.
something that needs to be discussed at a business or political meeting: · Right, could we get started please? We've a lot of business to get through this morning.
British in a meeting, subjects that are not on the list of things to discuss, but that people may want to talk about: · Is there any other business before we close the meeting?
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives
· It is a very serious matter to mislead the police.
(=something that needs to be dealt with quickly)
(=an important matter)· I was surprised that this weighty matter was decided so quickly.
(=a matter that is not important)· Walking out over such a small matter may seem ridiculous.
(=something that is easy to do)· Putting together the bookcases is a fairly simple matter.
· We never spoke about personal matters.
· This is a legal matter and should be discussed with a solicitor.
· He wrote to him several times about practical matters to do with the house.
verbs
· She refused to discuss the matter.
(=discuss something with someone)· If you need further training, raise the matter with your manager.
(=think about something)
(=decide something)· They are meeting tonight to settle the matter.
(=keep discussing or asking about something)· She decided not to pursue the matter, as it obviously upset him.
(=try to find out the truth about something)· The police said they were investigating the matter.
(=stop discussing or worrying about something)· I was too curious to let the matter drop.
phrases
(=something important)· He consulted her on all matters of importance.
(=something that concerns people)· Safety standards in the industry have become a matter of concern.
(=something to be debated/negotiated etc)· How to solve the housing crisis is a matter for debate.
(=something people discuss and wonder about)· His future had become a matter for speculation.
(=be something that a particular person should decide)· This is a matter for the judge.
(also the matter in hand British English) (=the thing you are dealing with now)· Do not let yourself be distracted from the matter in hand.
(=be something serious and important, though it might seem funny)· A doctor’s bad handwriting is no laughing matter, because it can lead to errors.
(=the most important part of something)· The crux of the matter is: how do we prevent these floods from happening again?
(=things connected with or caused by a particular event)· Are there any matters arising from the report which you wish to discuss?
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
 It might be possible to approach the problem in a different way.
· The village people had no choice in the matter.
 Could you clarify one or two points for me? Reporters asked him to clarify his position (=say exactly what his beliefs are) on welfare reform.
(=something that requires no more than common sense)· Not driving too fast is just a matter of common sense.
 To complicate matters further, differences exist as regards legal systems, trade customs, and language.
· Elderly people in particular feel that crime is a matter of concern for them.
(=something that you must make a moral judgment about)· Whether you vote or not is a matter of conscience.
· The right age to vote is a matter of controversy.
 The crux of the matter is how do we prevent a flood occurring again?
· New laws were introduced to deal with the issue.
(=be something that people have discussed)· The effectiveness of the government’s policy has been a matter of fierce debate.
(=be something that people should discuss)· The future of the police force is a matter for public debate.
 There’s something I have to speak to you about – it’s a delicate matter.
formal (=discuss a subject or problem)· The two leaders met to discuss the issue further.
· If you think that’s the end of the matter, you’re mistaken.
 a fiscal matter
 The police do not propose to take the matter further.
(=something you feel you must do because of your moral beliefs)· To my mum, paying bills on time is a point of honour.
 Whether you stay or leave is a matter of total indifference to me (=I do not care).
(=something that depends on chance)· Winning is a matter of luck.
 Use a matter-of-fact tone when disciplining your children.
 Janice had lost some weight, not that it mattered (=it did not matter).
(=used to say that you disagree, or that people disagree about something)· ‘He’s a very nice man.’ ‘That’s a matter of opinion,’ thought Sam.
(=be something that you can choose, according to what you like)· Which one you decide to buy is just a matter of personal preference.
 Poverty is a more pressing problem than pollution.
(=because of moral beliefs about right and wrong)· As a matter of principle one should never yield to terrorism.
formal (=something that has been written down so that anyone can know it)· His salary is a matter of public record.
· Has the issue been resolved yet?
· This briefing is a matter of routine whenever a new minister takes office.
 At least 30 shots were fired in a matter of seconds (=in a very short time).
· It is the area of pricing which may settle the question of which to buy.
(=be unknown)· The precise nature of the deal is a matter for speculation.
 For someone who can’t read, shopping is by no means a straightforward matter.
 The State Department reported that substantive discussions had taken place with Beijing.
 The hospital manager has promised to take the matter up with the member of staff involved.
(=different people have different opinions about what is good or right)· Which of the two methods you use is largely a matter of taste.
(=showing no emotion when what you are saying is exciting, frightening, upsetting, etc)· His tone was matter-of-fact, but she noticed he was shaking.
 We were punished for the most trivial offences.
· The truth of the matter is that we don’t know what really happened.
 I’m turning the project over to you.
 The issue should be discussed as a matter of urgency.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· But when you use it, it's an entirely different matter!· But the saying and the doing are different matters and are often worlds apart.· But narrative tone is a different and affirmative matter.· In antiquity it was believed the different classes of animals were composed of different kinds of matter.· That would have been a very different matter.· But having to make three straight pars to survive a cut is a different matter.· Onstage, though, it is a different matter.· However, in the workplace, where productivity thrives on positive relationships, it can be a different matter.
· The mystery surrounding the identity of property owners can be partly explained by a typical Victorian reticence concerning financial matters.· Carl was in charge of all the financial and business matters.· Dennis was a genuine enthusiast for financial matters.· And sales leadership in turn meant their agenda-setting obligations specifically for financial and business matters.· He's the manager, and looks after all financial matters.· Control over financial matters Constitutionally, Parliament has control over taxation and expenditure.· The importance and complexity of financial matters have caused special procedures to be evolved to deal with them.· Similarly the redundancy package was geared to match the relocation package so that staff would not base their decision on financial matters.
· At the Kleiber household in Poplar, these dramatic events passed unnoticed: Ernest and Rosie had more important matters in mind.· He wasted no mental effort on the problem, for this morning he had more important matters on his mind.· There is, however, the equally important matter of safeguarding mineral deposits.· My position on this important matter has nothing whatsoever to do with the rational, of course.· Seriously, though, it is important that the matter of advertising is raised every so often, for a number of reasons.· We moved on to other more important matters.· Some of the important matters that the hon. Gentleman raises have been the concern of several Select Committees.· All night long, serious, important matters were addressed; vital information was exchanged.
· There was also very little demand for help on legal matters and employment issues.· He said this was a legal matter.· He became a priest in 1284, aiding his parishioner5 in both spiritual and legal matters.· Full time welfare officers represent individuals at pension tribunals, and are able to offer professional advice on legal matters and housing.· He did research on legal matters for Carmine and knew a great deal about his holdings and operations.· Most oriental codes deal with legal matters only: morals and religion belong elsewhere.
· This turned the organic matter into liquid bitumen, which squeezed into pores and fractures in the rock.· Researchers have seen their kind before in sewers and other places where organic matter is highly concentrated.· When the manures rot down they add organic matter to the soil, which turns into humus.· Urban refuse is 75 percent organic matter.· Plants with a fibrous root system, creating plenty of organic matter, do most to improve the soil structure.· Make sure the soil in your shade garden is rich in organic matter.· The long roots reach the tank bottom, where the medium should be rich in organic matter, such as plant detritus.· Humus: The end product of decomposed organic matter such as leaves.
· The Bill does not deal with other key matters.· Perhaps the United States itself would benefit in the long run from a more flexible policy on sterling and other matters.· And the other matters that fall to the conveyancer to arrange will remain unchanged.· Earth not only grew by aggregation from a cloud of particles, but by collisions with other cosmic matter.· Some had hair, tissue or other matter attached to them.· There is just one other matter on which I shall be grateful for information.· He reserves the right to take part in discussions on other matters.· The other preliminary matter is that the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 does not tell you whether the seller is liable.
· This is particularly important when discussing personal matters, such as some one's care plan.· For years, I would natter on, whether it was about business or personal matters.· The nature of this will vary greatly depending on a rose's ancestry, while its appreciation is a very personal matter.· Behavior change is a personal matter.· This is not a personal matter, it's a matter that concerns your business integrity.· It was a personal matter that was taken care of before I was elected to the City Council.· And to every one it's a personal matter.· And I made the mistake of having her type up all the tapes that I was sure contained no personal matter.
· He was less inclined to be so, it seemed, about private matters.· That is strictly a private matter between a priest and a sinner.· Officials there are believed to be dealing with it as a private matter.· Child-rearing is considered a private matter, and there is no intervention unless a child is abused or neglected.· Boy sensed that this was a private matter, something to think about but not talk about.· Many of them look at it as a private family matter.· On the one hand, bringing up children is seen as a purely private matter.· Some organizations consider their employment policies to be a private matter of contract between the company and its employees.
· The seeking of business success is far too difficult and serious a matter to be done in a cosy way.· Inquiry is a serious matter and should be done boldly, whether applied to innovation or ponderous theoretical matter.· Losing a lamb or two was not unusual, but a dead calf was a serious matter.· A politicized game is made out of serious matters to scholars and the field.· But I must resist the temptation to treat so serious a matter with levity.· This was clearly a serious matter.· It will be a most serious matter.· They judged only minor cases; more serious matters were referred to the higher courts.
· Although the optimum phase resistance can be calculated, in practice it is a fairly simple matter to determine the optimum experimentally.· Washing her clothes was no simple matter with Hazel there.· The lodging of a compensation form, a simple enough matter, here required a respect for ritual.· This in turn made it a simple matter to adapt Watt's engine to provide rotary motion.· It is not a simple matter of informing people what to do as you seem to think.· After that it is a simple matter of pumping and reeling it to the net.· Becoming a hooligan within the Rowdies group is not a simple matter.· Yet defining capacity in banking is no simple matter.
· Marcus Leatherdale's photographs look downright mainstream by comparison, though his subject matter may include the bizarre and the theatrically far-out.· The poignancy of that piece is the circumstance of its composition, not its subject matter.· Unlike their Soviet counterparts, few western texts indulged in lengthy discussion of a work's subject matter.· Rothko would have justly replied that it was precisely in order to convey humanist content that he had dispensed with subject matter.· The subject matter should make a technical contribution to the state of the art.· The subject matter and the medium towards which the release is aimed are perhaps the two most important as to think about.· Category of contract: all contracts for sale or hire purchase of goods. Subject matter of contract: all goods.· Indeed the subject matter of many of Mercer's plays - which was often Mercer - could just as well have been Goodwin.
VERB
· Inevitable political interest in local development will also continue to complicate matters.· This does not invalidate Freud's approach, but it does complicate matters more than he suggests.· Reviews instances in which the Agency's activities have complicated matters or deterred developers from going ahead.· The other valentines were a more complicated matter.· To complicate matters some cells behave linearly under some conditions and non-linearly under others.· For many novices, the mechanics of sending e-mail are a complicated matter.
· I am not saying that the country should not consider the matter.· But before we venture down the road to actual accusation, we must consider the matter very carefully.· The Committee draws attention to any draft which it considers to raise a matter of political or legal importance.· After age thirty-five, contraceptive responsibility was considered a matter of mutual responsibility.· The more she considered the matter, the more she believed that Rose Cottage was as much a victim as she.· During my California days, under the influence of puberty, we did not consider such matters.· The Committee will consider the matter further.· It was a matter of faith; and of imagination, a thing Ralph had never considered before.
· The Bill does not deal with other key matters.· Better to sign Hebron now, Netanyahu said, and deal with these other matters afterward.· If at some stage we entered into a single currency, we should have to deal with a different matter.· As you know, few files dealing with intelligence matters are immediately available.· We must deal with the matter carefully.· I shall deal with that matter more fully in my later remarks.· Dudek was surprised at the request; it was not a course designed to deal with such matters.
· The alternative would be for the Court of Appeal to decide all the matters before it.· It was finally decided to refer the matter to the departmental assemblies.· Under the Bill there will be problems deciding whether the matter has local or national significance.· Although his ministers were never permitted to decide matters on their own account, Victor Amadeus delegated wide administrative powers to them.· It is for individual members and their firms to decide what subject matter is useful and relevant to their needs.· Yet of myself I can not decide the matter.· One tactic she has used is to decide matters outside the formal Cabinet, either in committees or in informal groups.· George Pataki asked Hill to give the governor some time to decide the matter.
· But then goes on to discuss the matter purely in electoral terms.· He issued a brief statement late Monday noting that he had discussed the matter with Rep.· Members of local branches meet in the evenings to discuss social and business matters.· They would possibly discuss such matters.· Mr Justice Kirkwood also banned the loquacious Kilshaws from discussing the matter with anyone outside the court.· But later Monday the district attorney said he had not discussed the matter with the coroner since his election in December.· It is likely that Celsus discussed the matter at greater length, and with greater clarity.· I backed into the house to discuss the matter with Narendra.
· It is capable of extension, but we shall not pursue the matter here.· I regret that they were unable to pursue the matter any further.· Anxious to avoid further difficulty, Harriet did not pursue the matter.· She wouldn't put it past him but in the brilliant afternoon heat she wasn't inclined to pursue the matter.· There was no need to pursue the matter any further prior to arrest.· If you feel upset by an apparent unfairness, pursue the matter through the grievance procedure.· He would not risk bringing himself and the Kharkov base into disrepute by pursuing the matter any further.
· In view of the Government's unsatisfactory reply, I intend to raise that matter again on the Adjournment.· He had not demurred when Helms raised the matter before the closed-door meeting.· It seemed in the end there was little else to do but actually to raise the matter again with Mr Farraday.· The Committee draws attention to any draft which it considers to raise a matter of political or legal importance.· I do not apologise for raising the matter on more than one occasion in interventions and again in my own speech.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
  • For the fact of the matter is, all the fight has been taken out of Blue.
  • All writers, and for that matter, all texts, have their individual qualities.
  • And a lot of other trees, too, for that matter.
  • And I said well I said for that matter we should really uh think about getting generators.
  • Given ongoing fitness, how long might either remain in county cricket for that matter?
  • Nor, for that matter, do the local residents have any notion of this facility.
  • Nor, for that matter, is life and death.
  • Or raven-black hair, for that matter.
  • You know the potential problems with my wave-riding interpretation of Quantum Theoryor for that matter with any other I have yet heard?
  • But the Friday round, during which a steady rain fell unceasingly, was a different matter.
  • But the possessions of the church of Canterbury were a different matter.
  • But the saying and the doing are different matters and are often worlds apart.
  • However, in the workplace, where productivity thrives on positive relationships, it can be a different matter.
  • The others looked at me oddly; they didn't have bulimics in their group - that was a different matter.
  • The city council took matters into its own hands and set a date for the meeting.
  • As a result, some countries have taken matters into their own hands.
  • Finally the women of Buntong Tiga can stand it no longer - they take matters into their own hands.
  • She then took matters into her own hands.
  • She was more than capable of taking matters into her own hands.
  • So why not take matters into our own hands?
  • The last thing leaders want is Tutsi who survived the genocide taking matters into their own hands.
  • When the psycho is caught, then let go on a technicality, Mom takes matters into her own hands.
  • It was only a matter of time before Lynn found out Phil's secret.
  • You'll learn how to do it eventually -- it's only a matter of time.
  • Your father is dying and there's nothing we can do. I'm afraid it's just a matter of time.
  • But they believe it's only a matter of time before the disease crosses the county boundary.
  • If he hasn't already killed somebody, then it's only a matter of time.
  • They think it's only a matter of time before he breaks.
► a matter of life and/or death
  • Deciding which bag is easier to carry is a matter of opinion.
  • How successfully it is done is a matter of opinion on the part of the individual reader.
  • It is a grand conception; whether it is a useful one may be a matter of opinion.
  • Many of these answers are a matter of opinion; some issues will matter more to some people than others.
  • Q: Well, that is a matter of opinion.
  • That would be a matter of opinion; he had a newspaper which he kept looking at, and shaking out.
  • Whether Innocent could have achieved his ends earlier or by better means must in the final analysis be a matter of opinion.
  • If you think torturing babies is good, that is a matter of taste.
  • In the United States, food is a matter of taste, time and price.
  • Quite what that means is a matter of taste, because a breed does not exist until it has been named.
  • Switching to the Normal channel I would say that using the crunch option for rock solo work is a matter of taste.
  • The amount of the increase or decrease is a matter of preference.
  • The first is a matter of taste.
  • The size of the pleat is a matter of choice.
  • This is a matter of choice.
  • Dessert is a matter of principle here.
  • First, there are matters of principle.
  • It seemed, as much as anything, to be a matter of principle.
  • It was a matter of principle.
  • They might have gone higher but this is a matter of principle.
  • Below that level it is a matter of getting bogged down.
  • How much money Simpson has is a matter of intense speculation and debate.
  • It is a matter of perception.
  • Nearly all his problems are a matter of remembering things.
  • This seems to be a matter of level of attention.
  • This was a matter of both intellectual curiosity and national security.
  • This was a matter of extreme concern - with its many implications, for both jurisdictions of Church and State.
  • Herrera still hoped to settle matters peaceably.
  • Already we read that within a matter of weeks the number of the believers was 120.
  • At least 30 rounds went off in a matter of seconds.
  • But these days, the time between orders and shipments has shrunk to a matter of weeks.
  • Hay says that Sarin would normally degrade in an open environment in a matter of hours.
  • It seemed to the rector that it all happened within a matter of seconds.
  • Many other soy sauces are chemically produced in a matter of hours.
  • More to the point, he prevailed on Amelia to write the text in a matter of weeks.
  • The new cabinet and other ministerial appointments are announced within a matter of days, sometimes within a matter of hours.
  • Beauty mainly torments us, as a matter of fact.
  • Before the Act the courts had, as a matter of sentencing practice, isolated two different types of affray.
  • Ford executives are reluctant to say as matter of corporate policy.
  • Governors were kept informed but as a decision of the headteachers rather than as a matter of right.
  • He hit the deck, moulding himself into the shadow as a matter of conditioned reflex.
  • In the Court of Appeal the majority held that, as a matter of construction, the clause did not apply.
  • So, as a matter of fact, did Ted Tollner.
  • They have agreed to look into the pensioner's plight as a matter of urgency if Miss Early gets in touch.
► as a matter of interest
  • The level of crime in our town is unhealthy and must be eliminated as a matter of urgency.
  • Any essential communication should be sent in writing and all letters of acceptance should be sent in as a matter of urgency.
  • Close monitoring of disk usage, together with improved training in file management, must be introduced as a matter of urgency.
  • Fundamental constitutional reconstruction was called for as a matter of urgency.
  • Is there not now a good case for strengthening the frontier wire, as a matter of urgency?
  • Now the county council has backed a new drive to recruit more retained firefighters, as a matter of urgency.
  • Please could you look into it as a matter of urgency.
  • That procedure should be streamlined as a matter of urgency.
  • They have agreed to look into the pensioner's plight as a matter of urgency if Miss Early gets in touch.
  • Voters expected as a matter of course that candidates would not keep all their promises.
  • Blood samples should be taken to measure the client's electrolyte and urea levels as a matter of routine.
  • By May first, I was able to walk from ten to twelve yards as a matter of routine.
  • Enemy redoubts were strewn with booby traps as a matter of course.
  • If they meet as a matter of course throughout the year they can review and plan on a regular basis.
  • Search at the police station should not be undertaken as a matter of routine but only where justified under Lindley v. Rutter.
  • Their general health is better and they do not suffer repeated or unwanted pregnancies as a matter of course.
  • They are very learned about cooking in San Francisco-people seem to expect as a matter of course things which we consider luxurious.
  • Another 10 percent or so will vote Republican, no matter what.
  • As devoted parents, they want to stand by their son no matter what happens.
  • But inside the Forum, no matter how lopsided the talent levels, the setting alone made it great.
  • But the algorithm is the same finite set of instructions no matter how big the numbers.
  • My priority is to drive the business, bring in the revenue, no matter what it takes.
  • The Universe is one organic whole, no matter how diverse and widely differing its manifold aspects may seem to be.
  • Throughout the century, no matter what the current literary rage, Contemporary Romances have maintained a quiet, yet devoted audience.
  • Actually, no matter what happens to the business cycle, people will continue to eat and to get sick.
  • Children benefit from knowing that they will be cared for and loved, no matter what their performance in school.
  • Dinah tells her she will always have a friend to turn to, no matter what trouble she may find.
  • Frequent cancellations, no matter what the excuse, make a diva seem a dangerously risky investment.
  • I found acceptance in my music, so -- no matter what I was -- they liked my music.
  • No matter how it manifests itself, no matter what the cause, it's bad news, believe me.
  • They had to get out, no matter what the weather, and run around the car five times.
  • Throughout the century, no matter what the current literary rage, Contemporary Romances have maintained a quiet, yet devoted audience.
  • Dad was determined to get to the truth, no matter how long it took.
  • I'm determined to go to New York, no matter how much it costs.
  • I never win, no matter how hard I try.
  • No matter what position he plays, he'll be a great asset to the team.
  • No matter, I'll pick up the clothes at the cleaners tomorrow.
  • Paul always calls me every day, no matter where he is.
  • All are welcome no matter if you only have a small plot.
  • Businesses are a key customer of education, no matter what schools think of that concept.
  • I found acceptance in my music, so -- no matter what I was -- they liked my music.
  • No military general would willingly send his army into battle untrained and ill-prepared, no matter how well-equipped.
  • The algorithm or the general calculational procedure-is just the same no matter how large the numbers are.
  • The one who will never stay behind, no matter how exhausted he is.
► it’s a matter of fact (that)
  • But first there's the small matter of a semi-final clash that has split the household down the middle.
  • His manifesto, of course, concerns the small matter of his life.
  • On a good day, the building would be almost entirely rented-apart from the small matter of signing the contract.
  • Then there was the small matter of my physical fitness.
  • There's also the little matter of thirty-three shroud lines loops!
  • There remains, as ever, the little matter of finance.
  • This operation was tricky because there was the little matter of taking off my trousers and putting on my shorts.
  • What about the small matter of the rest of the season?
  • After all, it eventually produces waste matter.
  • Because if they didn't, then all solid matter would simply turn to vapour.
  • It tells you just about how much organic matter is present.
  • It was the only solid matter they would meet this side of Jupiterstill two hundred million miles away.
  • Some organic matter is needed in order to produce nice specimens.
  • The quantity needed may, however, vary according to the quantity of organic matter in the raw water.
  • Urban refuse is 75 percent organic matter.
  • You can improve your soil by adding organic matter.
  • Yes, cooking, no matter that what I smelled cooking was scarcer by far than bread.
  • Armed with the knowledge gleaned from reading matter and known computer buffs I travelled far and wide.
  • But they also noted whether there was reading matter in the house.
  • I was grateful for the information you conveyed regarding Heather's reading matter on Rhodes.
  • The noble Lord is not, you understand a personal friend of mine: just my current reading matter.
  • There were also other changes, such as in available reading matter.
  • Thus the best libretto ever written for the best opera ever written is scarcely tolerable as reading matter.
  • Typographer a specialist in the design of printed matter, and in particular the art of typography.
  • Typography the design and planning of printed matter using type.
  • As a matter of fact, I have the woman's name written down somewhere.
  • Well, as a matter of fact, I heard he's still going out with Julie.
  • And, as a matter of fact, the U. S. Golf Association was delighted.
  • I like almost all women, as a matter of fact.
  • It rained all weekend, as a matter of fact, and on the Monday morning I got a shock.
  • Saw her awhile back at the Community Theater, as a matter of fact.
  • The wife of a prominent banker, his own banker as a matter of fact, said the banker liked mashed potatoes.
  • We all were, as a matter of fact.
  • Yes, it seemed to, as a matter of fact.
  • You know as a matter of fact there is nothing as old as crookedness.
► what’s the matter?/something’s the matter/nothing’s the matter etcPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
  • And that is another matter entirely.
  • But for many of us, reading is another thing altogether.
  • But the administration that has now begun work in Washington will be another matter altogether.
  • Defending a U. S. Senate seat is another matter.
  • Indeed it can: but whether the argument would carry any weight is another matter entirely.
  • Real art is another matter and, despite recent genuflections towards Rembrandt, a rarity becoming rarer.
  • Whether I understood them was another matter.
  • Whether they will be allowed to evict their unwelcome, unsavoury, tenants, from belfries and elsewhere, is another matter.
  • But what was still troubling her was the fact that she had still not broached the subject of Janice.
  • He broached the matter carefully while Marshall put a match to some logs in the grate.
  • I never broached the subject with him again.
  • It was half a year, he thought, since she had last broached the subject of his bachelor status.
  • It was nine o'clock and they had been driven in by the mosquitoes before he broached the subject of the night before.
  • Now, popular magazines regularly broach the subject.
  • Popular magazines now broach the subject of mental illness, while the government is encouraging research into mental health.
  • When, two months later, Father van Exem broached the subject, the Archbishop was actually quite upset about the idea.
  • His reply was inpart denial of the criticisms, and inpart an attempt to change the issue or confuse the matter.
  • Making comparisons between brains is a very risky business because there are confounding variables to confuse the issue.
  • Perceptions, such as hers, distort the truth and confuse the issue.
  • The Catholic arguments confuse the issue, but this time, for all the wrong reasons, the Pope is infallible.
  • The politicians, on the lookout for arguments to extend their authoritarianism, jumped at this opportunity to confuse the issue.
  • This attempt to confuse the issue went unanswered, and Santa Anna continued his preparations to advance on the capital.
  • This will only serve to confuse the issue.
  • And the fact is Jimi just turned me on more than anybody else, for his music.
  • But the fact is that none of these are visions of what I recognize as life.
  • But the fact is that the way we live our lives often assumes a belief about them, one way or another.
  • But the fact is, it never should have come to that.
  • Doing the sums Knowing the facts is the first priority.
  • Let's be realistic, the fact is crime does pay.
  • So parent power does work, but the fact is it shouldn't ever have to come to that.
  • Yet the fact is that most adolescents are using drugs, and our drug education programs fail to address that reality.
  • Make sure you remove all foreign matter from the wound.
  • A group of prisoners was carefully picking foreign bodies from a mound of rice before cooking.
  • Even for the last remaining superpower, domestic issues, not foreign matters, dominate national elections.
  • Eyes inflamed from trauma or after foreign bodies have been removed.
  • Lombardy was stopped and arrested on suspicion of rape by force; rape with a foreign object and false imprisonment.
  • Nothing but the thrill of seeing your name in print, alongside your gut-wrenching tale of finding foreign objects in your food.
  • Tell everyone to watch out for a foreign body?
  • The resulting pellets are termed Type 90 reflecting the high percentage of hop material present compared to water and foreign matters.
  • We describe two cases of accidental aspiration of a foreign body after use of a metered dose inhaler.
► (just) out of interest/as a matter of interest
  • Dole and his staff know that age discrimination is no laughing matter.
  • But Dole and his staff know the age issue is no laughing matter.
  • But it is no laughing matter.
  • But the issue of physicians and their handwriting is no laughing matter.
  • I am a gout sufferer, and it's no laughing matter.
  • It is no laughing matter, however.
  • The second Fleet Street sensation was no laughing matter.
  • They looked as though they knew already that life was no laughing matter.
  • This Jell-O-head business is no laughing matter.
  • But mind over matter, I can do it if I really want to, and I will.
  • He says it's just a case of mind over matter.
  • There are limits, in other words, to mind over matter.
  • Even so, some brain cells were still working, as I stared inwardly at the nub of the problem.
  • It sounds perfectly reasonable, but you will perceive that here is the nub of the matter.
  • This is the nub of the matter.
  • This, however, was the nub of the problem.
  • Anxious to avoid further difficulty, Harriet did not pursue the matter.
  • I regret that they were unable to pursue the matter any further.
  • If you feel upset by an apparent unfairness, pursue the matter through the grievance procedure.
  • It is capable of extension, but we shall not pursue the matter here.
  • She wouldn't put it past him but in the brilliant afternoon heat she wasn't inclined to pursue the matter.
  • There was no need to pursue the matter any further prior to arrest.
  • However, she can rest assured that we will not let the matter rest.
  • I was going to knock for I was still intrigued by him but Benjamin called me so I let the matter rest.
  • In her opinion anybody with any sense would let the matter rest there.
  • Innocent maintained that Philip should have gone to Rome for absolution but for the moment he let the matter rest.
  • Its opponents, however, were unlikely to let the matter rest where it stood in September 1932.
  • She simply refused to let the matter rest where it.was.
► not see that it matters
  • But they believe it's only a matter of time before the disease crosses the county boundary.
  • If he hasn't already killed somebody, then it's only a matter of time.
  • They think it's only a matter of time before he breaks.
1SUBJECT/SITUATION [countable] a subject or situation that you have to think about or deal with:  There are important matters we need to discuss.matter for The legal arrangements for the sale are a matter for negotiation.RegisterMatter is used especially in formal or official contexts. In everyday English, people usually use subject, or just say it: I’ve talked to him about the matter. ➔ I’ve talked to him about it.2matters [plural] 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. His long absences didn’t help matters (=made the situation worse).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.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.3MATERIAL [uncountable] a)the material that everything in the universe is made of, including solids, liquids, and gases:  particles of matter b)waste/solid/organic/vegetable etc matter a substance that consists of waste material, solid material etc c)a yellow or white substance in wounds or next to your eye4as a matter of fact spoken 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-fact5what’s the matter?/something’s the matter/nothing’s the matter etc spoken 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.6the truth/fact of the matter is (that) spoken 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.7for that matter 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.8be (quite) a different matter (also be (quite) another matter) especially British English 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.9take matters into your own hands 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.10it’s only/just a matter of time used to say that something will definitely happen in the future:  It can only be a matter of time before someone is seriously injured.11a matter of life and/or death a situation that is extremely serious or important, especially one in which someone could die:  The delay in the arrival of the ambulance could be a matter of life and death. Can’t it wait? It’s hardly a matter of life or death, is it?12be a matter of opinion 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.13be a matter of (personal) taste/choice/preference used to say that different people like different things:  I can’t say which wine is best – it’s a matter of personal taste.14be a matter of principle 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.15be a matter of doing something used to say that an action involves doing somethingbe simply/largely/merely etc a matter of doing something Reducing the number of road deaths is not simply a matter of improving roads.16a matter of seconds/weeks/hours etc only a few seconds, weeks etc:  The ambulance arrived in a matter of minutes. The bullet missed his head by a matter of inches.17as a matter of something 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.18as a matter of interest British English spoken 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?19as a matter of urgency 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.20as a matter of course/routine 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.21no matter how/whether/what etc (also no matter the ...) 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.22no matter what spoken used to say that you will definitely do something:  I’ll call you tonight, no matter what.23no matter spoken formal old-fashioned 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.’24it’s a matter of fact (that) used to say that something is a fact:  It’s a matter of fact that the team have not performed as well this season.25the little/small matter of something spoken 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.26no matter that 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.27reading/printed etc matter things that are written for people to read:  As well as textbooks and other printed matter, courses may include video and audio cassettes. → grey matter, subject matter, → not mince matters at mince1(3), → mind over matter at mind1(43)COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa serious/important matter· It is a very serious matter to mislead the police.an urgent matter (=something that needs to be dealt with quickly)a weighty matter (=an important matter)· I was surprised that this weighty matter was decided so quickly.a small/trivial matter (=a matter that is not important)· Walking out over such a small matter may seem ridiculous.a simple/easy matter (=something that is easy to do)· Putting together the bookcases is a fairly simple matter.a personal/private matter· We never spoke about personal matters.a financial/legal/religious etc matter· This is a legal matter and should be discussed with a solicitor.a practical matter· He wrote to him several times about practical matters to do with the house.verbsdiscuss the matter· She refused to discuss the matter.raise the matter (with somebody) (=discuss something with someone)· If you need further training, raise the matter with your manager.consider the matter (=think about something)settle/resolve the matter (=decide something)· They are meeting tonight to settle the matter.pursue the matter (=keep discussing or asking about something)· She decided not to pursue the matter, as it obviously upset him.investigate the matter (=try to find out the truth about something)· The police said they were investigating the matter.let the matter rest/drop (=stop discussing or worrying about something)· I was too curious to let the matter drop.phrasesa matter of importance (=something important)· He consulted her on all matters of importance.a matter of concern (=something that concerns people)· Safety standards in the industry have become a matter of concern.a matter for debate/negotiation/discussion (=something to be debated/negotiated etc)· How to solve the housing crisis is a matter for debate.a matter for speculation/conjecture (=something people discuss and wonder about)· His future had become a matter for speculation.be a matter for somebody (to decide) (=be something that a particular person should decide)· This is a matter for the judge.the matter at hand (also the matter in hand British English) (=the thing you are dealing with now)· Do not let yourself be distracted from the matter in hand.be no laughing matter (=be something serious and important, though it might seem funny)· A doctor’s bad handwriting is no laughing matter, because it can lead to errors.the heart/crux of the matter (=the most important part of something)· The crux of the matter is: how do we prevent these floods from happening again?matters arising from/out of something (=things connected with or caused by a particular event)· Are there any matters arising from the report which you wish to discuss?
matter1 nounmatter2 verb
mattermatter2 ●●● S1 W3 verb Verb Table
VERB TABLE
matter
Simple Form
PresentI, you, we, theymatter
he, she, itmatters
PastI, you, he, she, it, we, theymattered
Present perfectI, you, we, theyhave mattered
he, she, ithas mattered
Past perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad mattered
FutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill matter
Future perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have mattered
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • Does it matter if I bring my own car?
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • It matters what you wear to an evening of live theater.
  • Moreover, the only properties he would allow to matter were ones that could be dealt with by the science of mathematics.
  • None of the muddle in her room mattered.
  • They both said it didn't matter.
  • Welcome to the sorry state of the apology, when regrets seem to come most readily when they matter the least.
  • Why did the place matter so much?
Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatorwhat you say when something is not important
spoken say this to tell someone that something is not important and will not cause any serious problems: · "We've missed the train." "It doesn't matter - there's another one in 10 minutes."it doesn't matter if/whether/what etc: · It doesn't matter if you're a few minutes late. We'll wait for you.· It doesn't matter what other people think. You should do what you think is best.
say this when you think something is not important enough to affect what happens or change what someone decides: · "Do you want cash or a cheque?" "It doesn't make any difference."· Even if she had known he was lying it would have made no difference.· It doesn't make any difference whether you use fresh berries or frozen ones.it makes no difference/it doesn't make any difference to somebody: · It makes no difference to me if you want to go.it makes no difference/it doesn't make any difference to something: · You can have a single room or a double -- it makes no difference to the price.
spoken say this when you do not think something is important or worrying, even though other people may think it is: · My leg's a little sore, but it's no big deal.· Just copy your work onto a disk - it's no big deal.· She assumed he'd be furious, but the whole incident just wasn't a big deal to him.
spoken say this when you think something is not important and you do not want other people to worry about it: · "Are you okay?" "Yeah, it's nothing."· "Why do you want to speak to Danny? Is he in trouble again?" "No, it's nothing, really. We just want to ask a couple of questions."
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
 It mattered a great deal to her what other people thought of her.
 I don’t think it matters much what you study.
 campaigning on issues that really matter
 All that matters is that you are safe. Money was the only thing which mattered to him.
 I don’t care what it looks like – what matters is that it works.
 At last she was with the man she loved and nothing else mattered.
 She said very little during the meal. Not that it mattered (=it was not important).
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
 It might be possible to approach the problem in a different way.
· The village people had no choice in the matter.
 Could you clarify one or two points for me? Reporters asked him to clarify his position (=say exactly what his beliefs are) on welfare reform.
(=something that requires no more than common sense)· Not driving too fast is just a matter of common sense.
 To complicate matters further, differences exist as regards legal systems, trade customs, and language.
· Elderly people in particular feel that crime is a matter of concern for them.
(=something that you must make a moral judgment about)· Whether you vote or not is a matter of conscience.
· The right age to vote is a matter of controversy.
 The crux of the matter is how do we prevent a flood occurring again?
· New laws were introduced to deal with the issue.
(=be something that people have discussed)· The effectiveness of the government’s policy has been a matter of fierce debate.
(=be something that people should discuss)· The future of the police force is a matter for public debate.
 There’s something I have to speak to you about – it’s a delicate matter.
formal (=discuss a subject or problem)· The two leaders met to discuss the issue further.
· If you think that’s the end of the matter, you’re mistaken.
 a fiscal matter
 The police do not propose to take the matter further.
(=something you feel you must do because of your moral beliefs)· To my mum, paying bills on time is a point of honour.
 Whether you stay or leave is a matter of total indifference to me (=I do not care).
(=something that depends on chance)· Winning is a matter of luck.
 Use a matter-of-fact tone when disciplining your children.
 Janice had lost some weight, not that it mattered (=it did not matter).
(=used to say that you disagree, or that people disagree about something)· ‘He’s a very nice man.’ ‘That’s a matter of opinion,’ thought Sam.
(=be something that you can choose, according to what you like)· Which one you decide to buy is just a matter of personal preference.
 Poverty is a more pressing problem than pollution.
(=because of moral beliefs about right and wrong)· As a matter of principle one should never yield to terrorism.
formal (=something that has been written down so that anyone can know it)· His salary is a matter of public record.
· Has the issue been resolved yet?
· This briefing is a matter of routine whenever a new minister takes office.
 At least 30 shots were fired in a matter of seconds (=in a very short time).
· It is the area of pricing which may settle the question of which to buy.
(=be unknown)· The precise nature of the deal is a matter for speculation.
 For someone who can’t read, shopping is by no means a straightforward matter.
 The State Department reported that substantive discussions had taken place with Beijing.
 The hospital manager has promised to take the matter up with the member of staff involved.
(=different people have different opinions about what is good or right)· Which of the two methods you use is largely a matter of taste.
(=showing no emotion when what you are saying is exciting, frightening, upsetting, etc)· His tone was matter-of-fact, but she noticed he was shaking.
 We were punished for the most trivial offences.
· The truth of the matter is that we don’t know what really happened.
 I’m turning the project over to you.
 The issue should be discussed as a matter of urgency.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
· For those who care about baseball, nothing else mattered on Saturday.· I do not remember where I was, only what I was looking for, as if nothing else mattered.
· But it hardly matters to most of the city's motorists, who are unlikely to be going anywhere.· He was finally caught, and it hardly mattered who had caught him.· This would hardly matter if we still lived in those dim and distant days when nobody took sport too seriously.· Once networked, it hardly matters whether you are on the floor below, or across town.· It hardly mattered, since that route led to the docks he had already seen.· It hardly matters, because examples of bias are there in abundance, and some take fairly systematic forms.· The question whether they make a picture more or less luminous hardly matters.· But, for most, the money hardly mattered.
· For martial artists it mattered less what form you studied than that you made it a way of life.· It will matter less that the person tackles it as an employee or an external vendor than that the person solves it.· This would matter less if the rest of the year looked easy.· Probably, when our feelings are consistent, the words, perhaps stumbling and inadequate, matter less.· It mattered less what the company clerks and rubber plantation foremen in second class might feel.· With each day she spent in the sun these crucial questions mattered less.· Yet bias in the major media matters less that it did in the NixonAgnew era.
· It matters little that consumers are still cautious.· On Andean haciendas, it matters little to the man who tills the land whether the product increases.· He didn't often actually handle a painting, but that mattered little to him.· It matters little, the loss is mine.· That the subject was in fact normally accorded Cinderella status mattered little to the many who objected to its being there at all.· To neo-Keynesians it matters little what local authorities spend on revenue account.· What might happen when eventually they arrived at Wrens' Quarters, Ardneavie, mattered little.· In this instance it mattered little.
· This matters most in fuzzy, creative processes such as product development.· That story is a metaphor for what matters most to me as I help children to write and to live like writers.· Household chores will present a bit of a problem, of course, but the children matter most.· We know what matters most to them.· The message was a public one, but the person it mattered most to was Diana.· Which people who matter most to performance believe that they must change?· The enthusiasm and militancy of 1919 no longer existed in the areas and industries where it had mattered most.· After all, quality matters most in a compelling sage.
· You've already got Oswin, so it doesn't really matter much.· None of that would matter much if the material could withstand the scrutiny.· In the past, this would not have mattered much, provided one drug was eventually a winner.· Yet he no longer matters much to his national party.· The departmental affiliation of such a course doesn't much matter provided that it is taught by people with relevant research experience.· Not that it matters much at the moment.· The particular colour pattern of a Heliconius presumably does not matter much, so long as it is memorable to the local birds.· The art department still had some fun, but it no longer mattered much off campus.
· It does not really matter so long as we accept both points of view.· Does it really matter that much in the post-Cold War period?· It didn't really matter which direction it came from.· The first thing he had learned was that nobody really mattered.· Do everything you can to avoid mishaps by being adequately prepared but ask yourself again - does it really matter?· If Greg Norman hardly ever wins the big one, does it really matter to him?· You've already got Oswin, so it doesn't really matter much.· This time the alleged transgressions involve a violation of constitutional protections that really matter in a democracy.
· So it doesn't matter where you work.· By wandering aimlessly, all places became equal, and it no longer mattered where he was.· It really doesn't matter where you look.· But it does not matter where issues of capital punishment and deterrence are concerned.· And it doesn't matter where I am, I can call him up.· If a reader comprehends the synthesis, then indeed it does not matter where one commences to read.· Doesn't matter where you hit some one.· What does it matter where one lives?
NOUN
· Money mattered, mattered a great deal to us.· The details clearly matter a great deal to biologists interested in cloning, and we should look at them.· If a president is paranoid like Nixon, changes like this matter a great deal.· It does not matter a great deal which method is used.
· The exact quantities of money don't matter.· Create and focus energy and meaningful language because they are the scarcest resources during periods of change. Money and talent matter.· He came from a world where money mattered.· But truly it was not the money that mattered.· The money didn't matter any more.· But, for most, the money hardly mattered.· Good Money didn't matter. Money mattered.· Making money was mostly what mattered.
· In a stadium-driven sports world, the only thing that matters is the stadium.· And in any case, he could control the things that mattered very well from there.· Well, the things that really mattered.· It was the only thing that mattered to him, and drew all his concentration and effort.· But freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much.
· And in any case, he could control the things that mattered very well from there.· But freedom to differ is not limited to things that do not matter much.· Sanity insists that certain things do matter infinitely more than others.· He drove her back to Greystones, still talking fluently of things that mattered not at all.· There was no sense in worrying, he thought, no sense in troubling himself with things that did not matter.
VERB
· They turn out a little patchy, but it does not seem to matter to the fish.· It did not seem to matter that she had borne him a son.· It seemed that nothing mattered to her now.· The lack of political drama did not seem to matter to most voters Saturday.· For our purposes here that may not seem to matter very much.· It doesn't seem to matter that the reader has my name and could easily get my address and phone number.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
  • "Do you want white or dark meat?" "Oh, it doesn't matter."
  • "I think I taped over your show." "It doesn't matter - I already watched it."
  • "We've missed the train." "It doesn't matter - there's another one in 10 minutes."
  • It calls for brown sugar, but it doesn't matter - you can use white.
  • It doesn't matter if you're a few minutes late. We'll wait for you.
  • It doesn't matter what other people think. You should do what you think is best.
  • We'll do it tomorrow or the next day. What does it matter?
  • Hill people, valley people, what does it matter if gullibility remains unaffected by our environments?
  • The same as what does it matter whether or not I was a virgin when I met Gillian?
  • Well, what does it matter?
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
  • And that is another matter entirely.
  • But for many of us, reading is another thing altogether.
  • But the administration that has now begun work in Washington will be another matter altogether.
  • Defending a U. S. Senate seat is another matter.
  • Indeed it can: but whether the argument would carry any weight is another matter entirely.
  • Real art is another matter and, despite recent genuflections towards Rembrandt, a rarity becoming rarer.
  • Whether I understood them was another matter.
  • Whether they will be allowed to evict their unwelcome, unsavoury, tenants, from belfries and elsewhere, is another matter.
  • But what was still troubling her was the fact that she had still not broached the subject of Janice.
  • He broached the matter carefully while Marshall put a match to some logs in the grate.
  • I never broached the subject with him again.
  • It was half a year, he thought, since she had last broached the subject of his bachelor status.
  • It was nine o'clock and they had been driven in by the mosquitoes before he broached the subject of the night before.
  • Now, popular magazines regularly broach the subject.
  • Popular magazines now broach the subject of mental illness, while the government is encouraging research into mental health.
  • When, two months later, Father van Exem broached the subject, the Archbishop was actually quite upset about the idea.
  • His reply was inpart denial of the criticisms, and inpart an attempt to change the issue or confuse the matter.
  • Making comparisons between brains is a very risky business because there are confounding variables to confuse the issue.
  • Perceptions, such as hers, distort the truth and confuse the issue.
  • The Catholic arguments confuse the issue, but this time, for all the wrong reasons, the Pope is infallible.
  • The politicians, on the lookout for arguments to extend their authoritarianism, jumped at this opportunity to confuse the issue.
  • This attempt to confuse the issue went unanswered, and Santa Anna continued his preparations to advance on the capital.
  • This will only serve to confuse the issue.
  • And the fact is Jimi just turned me on more than anybody else, for his music.
  • But the fact is that none of these are visions of what I recognize as life.
  • But the fact is that the way we live our lives often assumes a belief about them, one way or another.
  • But the fact is, it never should have come to that.
  • Doing the sums Knowing the facts is the first priority.
  • Let's be realistic, the fact is crime does pay.
  • So parent power does work, but the fact is it shouldn't ever have to come to that.
  • Yet the fact is that most adolescents are using drugs, and our drug education programs fail to address that reality.
  • Make sure you remove all foreign matter from the wound.
  • A group of prisoners was carefully picking foreign bodies from a mound of rice before cooking.
  • Even for the last remaining superpower, domestic issues, not foreign matters, dominate national elections.
  • Eyes inflamed from trauma or after foreign bodies have been removed.
  • Lombardy was stopped and arrested on suspicion of rape by force; rape with a foreign object and false imprisonment.
  • Nothing but the thrill of seeing your name in print, alongside your gut-wrenching tale of finding foreign objects in your food.
  • Tell everyone to watch out for a foreign body?
  • The resulting pellets are termed Type 90 reflecting the high percentage of hop material present compared to water and foreign matters.
  • We describe two cases of accidental aspiration of a foreign body after use of a metered dose inhaler.
► (just) out of interest/as a matter of interest
  • Dole and his staff know that age discrimination is no laughing matter.
  • But Dole and his staff know the age issue is no laughing matter.
  • But it is no laughing matter.
  • But the issue of physicians and their handwriting is no laughing matter.
  • I am a gout sufferer, and it's no laughing matter.
  • It is no laughing matter, however.
  • The second Fleet Street sensation was no laughing matter.
  • They looked as though they knew already that life was no laughing matter.
  • This Jell-O-head business is no laughing matter.
  • But mind over matter, I can do it if I really want to, and I will.
  • He says it's just a case of mind over matter.
  • There are limits, in other words, to mind over matter.
  • Even so, some brain cells were still working, as I stared inwardly at the nub of the problem.
  • It sounds perfectly reasonable, but you will perceive that here is the nub of the matter.
  • This is the nub of the matter.
  • This, however, was the nub of the problem.
  • Anxious to avoid further difficulty, Harriet did not pursue the matter.
  • I regret that they were unable to pursue the matter any further.
  • If you feel upset by an apparent unfairness, pursue the matter through the grievance procedure.
  • It is capable of extension, but we shall not pursue the matter here.
  • She wouldn't put it past him but in the brilliant afternoon heat she wasn't inclined to pursue the matter.
  • There was no need to pursue the matter any further prior to arrest.
  • However, she can rest assured that we will not let the matter rest.
  • I was going to knock for I was still intrigued by him but Benjamin called me so I let the matter rest.
  • In her opinion anybody with any sense would let the matter rest there.
  • Innocent maintained that Philip should have gone to Rome for absolution but for the moment he let the matter rest.
  • Its opponents, however, were unlikely to let the matter rest where it stood in September 1932.
  • She simply refused to let the matter rest where it.was.
► not see that it matters
  • But they believe it's only a matter of time before the disease crosses the county boundary.
  • If he hasn't already killed somebody, then it's only a matter of time.
  • They think it's only a matter of time before he breaks.
1[intransitive not in progressive] to be important, especially to be important to you, or to have an effect on what happensit doesn’t etc matter if Will it matter if I’m a little late? If I have to stay late at work tonight, it won’t matter because we can go out another night.it doesn’t etc matter who/why/what etc It doesn’t matter what you wear, as long as you look neat and tidy. Does it matter what I think?it doesn’t etc matter that It does not matter that the gun was in fact unloaded. Do you think it matters that the cups and saucers don’t match?it doesn’t matter about something Just give me $5 – it doesn’t matter about the rest.matter to He had lost many of the people who mattered to him.matter a lot/a great deal It mattered a great deal to her what other people thought of her.not matter much/matter little I don’t think it matters much what you study. campaigning on issues that really matterall that matters/the only thing that matters All that matters is that you are safe. Money was the only thing which mattered to him. I don’t care what it looks like – what matters is that it works. At last she was with the man she loved and nothing else mattered. She said very little during the meal. Not that it mattered (=it was not important).2it doesn’t matter spoken a)used to tell someone that you are not angry or upset about something, especially something that they have done:  ‘I’ve spilled some coffee on the carpet.’ ‘It doesn’t matter.’ b)used to say that you do not mind which one of two things you have:  ‘Red or white wine?’ ‘Oh, either. It doesn’t matter.’3what does it matter? spoken used to say that something is not important:  It all happened so long ago now, what does it matter? What does it matter how old I am?
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