Definitions for Matter
ˈmæt ərmat·ter

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:2.9 / 16 votes

1. matter, affair, thingnoun

   a vaguely specified concern

   "several matters to attend to"; "it is none of your affair"; "things are going well"

2. topic, subject, issue, matternoun

   some situation or event that is thought about

   "he kept drifting off the topic"; "he had been thinking about the subject for several years"; "it is a matter for the police"

3. matternoun

   that which has mass and occupies space

   "physicists study both the nature of matter and the forces which govern it"

4. matternoun

   a problem

   "is anything the matter?"

5. matternoun

   (used with negation) having consequence

   "they were friends and it was no matter who won the games"

6. matterverb

   written works (especially in books or magazines)

   "he always took some reading matter with him on the plane"

7. count, matter, weighverb

   have weight; have import, carry weight

   "It does not matter much"

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.5 / 2 votes

1. matternoun

   The basic structural component of the universe. Matter usually has mass and volume.

2. matternoun

   Matter made up of normal particles, not antiparticles. (Non-antimatter matter).

3. matternoun

   A kind of substance.

   vegetable matter

4. matternoun

   A condition, subject or affair, especially one of concern.

5. matternoun

   An approximate amount or extent.

   a matter of months; a matter of knowledge.

6. matternoun

   Written material (especially in books or magazines)

   He always took some reading matter with him on the plane

7. matternoun

   Aristotelian: undeveloped potentiality subject to change and development; formlessness. Matter receives form, and becomes substance.

8. matterverb

   To be important.

9. matterverb

   To care about, to mind; to find important.

10. Etymology: From mater, from materie, from materie, from materia (matter, stuff, material), derivative of Latin mater "mother". Displaced native andweorc (from andweorc), intinga.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Matternoun

   Etymology: matiere, French; materia, Latin.

   1. Body; substance extended.

   If then the soul another soul do make,
   Because her pow’r is kept within a bound,
   She must some former stuff or matter take,
   But in the soul there is no matter found. Davies.

   It seems probable to me, that God in the beginning formed matter in solid, massy, hard, impenetrable, moveable particles, of such sizes and figures, and with such other properties, and in such proportion to space, as most conduced to the end for which he formed them; and that those primitive particles being solids are incomparably harder than any porous bodies compounded of them, even so very hard as never to wear or break in pieces, no ordinary power being able to divide what God himself made one in the first creation. Newt.

   Some have dimensions of length, breadth, and depth, and have also a power of resistance, or exclude every thing of the same kind from being in the same place: this is the proper character of matter or body. Isaac Watts, Logick.

   2. Materials; that of which any thing is composed.

   The upper regions of the air perceive the collection of the matter of tempests before the air here below. Francis Bacon.

   3. Subject; thing treated.

   The subject or matter of laws in general is thus far forth constant, which matter is that for the ordering whereof laws were instituted. Richard Hooker, b. i.

   I have words to speak in thy ear will make thee dumb; yet are they much too light for the matter. William Shakespeare, Hamlet.

   Son of God, Saviour of men! Thy name
   Shall be the copious matter of my song. John Milton, Par. Lost.

   It is matter of the greatest astonishment to observe the common boldness of men. Decay of Piety.

   I shall turn
   Full fraught with joyful tiding of these works,
   New matter of his praise, and of our songs. Dryden.

   He grants the deluge to have come so very near the matter, that but very few escaped. John Tillotson.

   This is so certain in true philosophy, that it is matter of astonishment to me how it came to be doubted. George Cheyne.

   Be thou the copious matter of my song. Phillips.

   4. The whole; the very thing supposed.5. Affair; business: in a familiar sense.

   To help the matter, the alchemists call in many vanities out of astrology. Francis Bacon, Nat. Hist.

   Matters succeeded so well with him, that every-body was in admiration to see how mighty rich he was grown. Roger L'Estrange.

   Never was any thing gotten by sensuality and sloth in matter of profit or reputation. Roger L'Estrange, Fables.

   A fawn was reasoning the matter with a stag, why he should run away from the dogs. Roger L'Estrange, Fables.

   Some young female seems to have carried matters so far, that she is ripe for asking advice. Spectator.

   If chance herself should vary,
   Observe how matters would miscarry. Matthew Prior.

   6. Cause of disturbance.

   Where art thou? What’s the matter with thee? William Shakespeare.

   What’s the matter, you dissentious rogues,
   That rubbing the poor itch of your opinion,
   Make yourselves scabs. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

   7. Subject of suit or complaint.

   Slender, I broke your head; what matter have you against me?
   —— Marry, Sir, I have matter in my head against you. William Shakespeare.

   If the craftsmen have a matter against any man, the law is open; let them implead one another. Acts xix. 38.

   In armies, if the matter should be tried by duel between two champions, the victory should go on the one side; and yet if tried by the gross, it would go on the other. Francis Bacon.

   8. Import; consequence; importance; moment.

   If I had had time to have made new liveries, I would have bestowed the thousand I borrowed of you: but it is no matter, this poor shew doth better. William Shakespeare, Henry IV.

   And please yourselves this day;
   No matter from what hands you have the play. Dryden.

   A prophet some, and some a poet cry,
   No matter which, so neither of them lye,
   From steepy Othrys’ top to Pilus drove
   His herd. Dryden.

   Pleas’d or displeas’d, no matter now ’tis past;
   The first who dares be angry breaths his last. George Granville.

   9. Thing; object; that which has some particular relation, or is subject to particular consideration.

   The king of Armenia had in his company three of the most famous men for matters of arms. Philip Sidney, b. ii.

   Plato reprehended a young man for entering into a dissolute house; the young man said, Why for so small a matter? Plato replied, But custom is no small matter. Francis Bacon.

   Many times the things deduced to judgment may be meum and tuum, when the reason and consequence thereof may trench to point of estate. I call matter of estate not only the parts of sovereignty, but whatsoever introduceth any great alteration, or dangerous precedent. Francis Bacon, Essays.

   It is a maxim in state, that all countries of new acquest, till they be settled, are rather matters of burden than of strength. Francis Bacon, War with Spain.

   10. Question considered.

   Upon the whole matter, it is absurd to think that conscience can be kept in order without frequent examination. South.

   11. Space or quantity nearly computed.

   Away he goes to the market-town, a matter of seven miles off, to enquire if any had seen his ass. Roger L'Estrange.

   I have thoughts to tarry a small matter in town, to learn somewhat of your lingo. William Congreve, Way of the World.

   12. Purulent running; that which is formed by suppuration.

   In an inflamed tubercle in the great angle of the left eye, the matter being suppurated I opened it. Richard Wiseman, Surgery.

   13. Upon the Matter. A low phrase now out of use, importing, considering the whole; with respect to the main; nearly.

   In their superiors it quencheth jealousy, and layeth their competitors asleep; so that upon the matter, in a great wit deformity is an advantage to rising. Francis Bacon, Essays.

   Upon the matter, in these prayers I do the same thing I did before, save only that what before I spake without book I now read. Robert Sanderson.

   The elder, having consumed his whole fortune, when forced to leave his title to his younger brother, left upon the matter nothing to support it. Edward Hyde.

   Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse, but were, upon the matter, equal in foot. Edward Hyde, b. viii.

   If on one side there are fair proofs, and no pretence of proof on the other, and that the difficulties are most pressing on that side which is destitute of proof, I desire to know, whether this be not upon the matter as satisfactory to a wise man as a demonstration. John Tillotson, Sermons.

2. To Matterverb

   To regard; not to neglect: as, I matter not that calumny.

   Etymology: from the noun.

3. To Matterverb

   Etymology: from the noun.

   1. To be of importance; to import.

   It matters not, so they deny it all;
   And can but carry the lye constantly. Ben Jonson, Catal.

   It matters not how they were called, so we know who they are. John Locke.

   If Petrarch’s muse did Laura’s wit rehearse;
   And Cowley flatter’d dear Orinda’s verse;
   She hopes from you —— Pox take her hopes and fears,
   I plead her sex’s claim: what matters hers? Matthew Prior.

   2. To generate matter by suppuration.

   Deadly wounds inward bleed, each slight sore mattereth. Philip Sidney, b. i.

   The herpes beneath mattered, and were dried up with common epuloticks. Richard Wiseman, Surgery.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Matter

   In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are ultimately composed of atoms, which are made up of interacting subatomic particles, and in everyday as well as scientific usage, "matter" generally includes atoms and anything made up of them, and any particles (or combination of particles) that act as if they have both rest mass and volume. However it does not include massless particles such as photons, or other energy phenomena or waves such as light or sound. Matter exists in various states (also known as phases). These include classical everyday phases such as solid, liquid, and gas – for example water exists as ice, liquid water, and gaseous steam – but other states are possible, including plasma, Bose–Einstein condensates, fermionic condensates, and quark–gluon plasma.Usually atoms can be imagined as a nucleus of protons and neutrons, and a surrounding "cloud" of orbiting electrons which "take up space". However this is only somewhat correct, because subatomic particles and their properties are governed by their quantum nature, which means they do not act as everyday objects appear to act – they can act like waves as well as particles and they do not have well-defined sizes or positions. In the Standard Model of particle physics, matter is not a fundamental concept because the elementary constituents of atoms are quantum entities which do not have an inherent "size" or "volume" in any everyday sense of the word. Due to the exclusion principle and other fundamental interactions, some "point particles" known as fermions (quarks, leptons), and many composites and atoms, are effectively forced to keep a distance from other particles under everyday conditions; this creates the property of matter which appears to us as matter taking up space. For much of the history of the natural sciences people have contemplated the exact nature of matter. The idea that matter was built of discrete building blocks, the so-called particulate theory of matter, independently appeared in ancient Greece and ancient India among Buddhists, Hindus and Jains in 1st-millennium BC. Ancient philosophers who proposed the particulate theory of matter include Kanada (c. 6th–century BC or after), Leucippus (~490 BC) and Democritus (~470–380 BC).

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Matternoun

   that of which anything is composed; constituent substance; material; the material or substantial part of anything; the constituent elements of conception; that into which a notion may be analyzed; the essence; the pith; the embodiment

2. Matternoun

   that of which the sensible universe and all existent bodies are composed; anything which has extension, occupies space, or is perceptible by the senses; body; substance

3. Matternoun

   that with regard to, or about which, anything takes place or is done; the thing aimed at, treated of, or treated; subject of action, discussion, consideration, feeling, complaint, legal action, or the like; theme

4. Matternoun

   that which one has to treat, or with which one has to do; concern; affair; business

5. Matternoun

   affair worthy of account; thing of consequence; importance; significance; moment; -- chiefly in the phrases what matter ? no matter, and the like

6. Matternoun

   inducing cause or occasion, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing; difficulty; trouble

7. Matternoun

   amount; quantity; portion; space; -- often indefinite

8. Matternoun

   substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess; pus; purulent substance

9. Matternoun

   that which is permanent, or is supposed to be given, and in or upon which changes are effected by psychological or physical processes and relations; -- opposed to form

10. Matternoun

    written manuscript, or anything to be set in type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be used, or which has been used, in printing

11. Matterverb

    to be of importance; to import; to signify

12. Matterverb

    to form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate

13. Matterverb

    to regard as important; to take account of; to care for

14. Etymology: [OE. matere, F. matire, fr. L. materia; perh. akin to L. mater mother. Cf. Mother, Madeira, Material.]

FreebaseRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Matter

   Matter is a poorly-defined term in science. The term has often been used in reference to a substance that has rest mass. Matter is also used loosely as a general term for the substance that makes up all observable physical objects. All objects we see with the naked eye are composed of atoms. This atomic matter is in turn made up of interacting subatomic particles—usually a nucleus of protons and neutrons, and a cloud of orbiting electrons. Typically, science considers these composite particles matter because they have both rest mass and volume. By contrast, massless particles, such as photons, are not considered matter, because they have neither rest mass nor volume. However, not all particles with rest mass have a classical volume, since fundamental particles such as quarks and leptons are considered "point particles" with no effective size or volume. Nevertheless, quarks and leptons together make up "ordinary matter," and their interactions contribute to the effective volume of the composite particles that make up ordinary matter. Matter commonly exists in four states: solid, liquid and gas, and plasma. . However, advances in experimental techniques have revealed other previously theoretical phases, such as Bose–Einstein condensates and fermionic condensates. A focus on an elementary-particle view of matter also leads to new phases of matter, such as the quark–gluon plasma. For much of the history of the natural sciences people have contemplated the exact nature of matter. The idea that matter was built of discrete building blocks, the so-called particulate theory of matter, was first put forward by the Greek philosophers Leucippus and Democritus.²²

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 1 vote

1. Matter

   mat′ėr, n. that which occupies space, and with which we become acquainted by our bodily senses: that out of which anything is made: that which receiving a form becomes a substance: the subject or thing treated of: anything engaging the attention: that with which one has to do: cause of a thing: thing of consequence: something requiring remedy or explanation: any special allegation in law: importance: a measure, &c., of indefinite amount: (print.) material for work, type set up: mere dead substance, that which is thrown off by a living body, esp. pus, or the fluid in boils, tumours, and festering sores.—v.i. to be of importance: to signify: to form or discharge matter in a sore:—pr.p. matt′ering; pa.p. matt′ered.—adjs. Matt′erful, full of matter, pithy; Matt′erless; Matt′er-of-fact, adhering to the matter of fact: not fanciful: dry; Matt′ery, significant: purulent.—Matter of course, occurring in natural time and order, as a thing to be expected; Matter of fact, really happening and not fanciful or supposed: not wandering beyond realities. [O. Fr. matiere—L. materia, matter.]

Military Dictionary and GazetteerRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. matter

   That with regard to which anything takes place,—the subject of action, complaint, discussion, legal action, or the like. A word used in reference to courts-martial. The specific charges which are brought against a prisoner, and to which the court must strictly confine itself. Also applied to the evidence before a legal tribunal. New matter is new evidence not before considered.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. matter

   A type and form of energy, color, consciousness, data, information, light and frequency.

   The matter within a building is very important.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on January 13, 2020  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. matter

   Song lyrics by matter -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by matter on the Lyrics.com website.

Surnames Frequency by Census RecordsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. MATTER

   According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Matter is ranked #11069 in terms of the most common surnames in America.
   
   The Matter surname appeared 2,870 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 would have the surname Matter.
   
   92.6% or 2,659 total occurrences were White.
   2.6% or 75 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
   2% or 58 total occurrences were of two or more races.
   1.2% or 37 total occurrences were Black.
   0.8% or 24 total occurrences were Asian.
   0.5% or 17 total occurrences were American Indian or Alaskan Native.

Matched Categories

1. • Concern
   • Consequence
   • Trouble

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Matter' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #581

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Matter' in Written Corpus Frequency: #593

3. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Matter' in Nouns Frequency: #122

4. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Matter' in Verbs Frequency: #387

Anagrams for Matter »

1. mettar

How to pronounce Matter?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Matter in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Matter in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Matter in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of Matter in a Sentence

1. Real Live Preacher:

   God, I dont have great faith, but I can be faithful. My belief in you may be seasonal, but my faithfulness will not. I will follow in the way of Christ. I will act as though my life and the lives of others matter. I will love. I have no greater gift to offer than my life. Take it.

2. Joe Biden:

   This is a matter, this whole coronavirus - is a matter of presidential leadership, later this week, I'll be speaking to you on what I believe the nation should be doing to address this virus.

3. Candace Hardy:

   The Weaver family was loved by everyone, no matter if The Palm Beach Post was a stranger, his mom or a family member, he was just a ball of light with so much energy. He was always positive, always had a smile on a face and he was always a joy to be around. He left an impact on a lot of people.

4. Ed Kamuda:

   Let nature take back what is hers, it’s only a matter of time before it’s a brown stain and a collection of pig iron on the ocean floor.

5. Alice Walker:

   Deliver me from writers who say the way they live doesn't matter. I'm not sure a bad person can write a good book, If art doesn't make us better, then what on earth is it for.

Popularity rank by frequency of use