Match

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

Match,  

 A game, match, etc., open only to losers in early stages of contests.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Match, n. [OE. macche, F. mèche, F. mèche, fr. L. myxa a lamp nozzle, Gr. my`xa mucus, nostril, a lamp nozzle. Cf. Mucus.].

 Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood or cardboard dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium.  [1913 Webster]

Match tub, a tub with a perforated cover for holding slow matches for firing cannon, esp. on board ship. The tub contains a little water in the bottom, for extinguishing sparks from the lighted matches. -- Quick match, threads of cotton or cotton wick soaked in a solution of gunpowder mixed with gum arabic and boiling water and afterwards strewed over with mealed powder. It burns at the rate of one yard in thirteen seconds, and is used as priming for heavy mortars, fireworks, etc. -- Slow match, slightly twisted hempen rope soaked in a solution of limewater and saltpeter or washed in a lye of water and wood ashes. It burns at the rate of four or five inches an hour, and is used for firing cannon, fireworks, etc.

Match, n. [OE. macche, AS. gemæcca; akin to gemaca, and to OS. gimako, OHG. gimah fitting, suitable, convenient, Icel. mark suitable, maki mate, Sw. make, Dan. mage; all from the root of E. make, v. See Make mate, and Make, v., and cf. Mate an associate.].

•  A person or thing equal or similar to another; one able to mate or cope with another; an equal; a mate.  [1913 Webster]

  "Government . . . makes an innocent man, though of the lowest rank, a match for the mightiest of his fellow subjects."  [1913 Webster]
•  A bringing together of two parties suited to one another, as for a union, a trial of skill or force, a contest, or the like  [1913 Webster]

  "A solemn match was made; he lost the prize."  [1913 Webster]
•  An agreement, compact, etc.  Shak.  [1913 Webster]

  "Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other matches than those of its own making."  [1913 Webster]
•  A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage.  Clarendon.  [1913 Webster]
•  Equality of conditions in contest or competition, or one who provides equal competition to another in a contest; as, he had no match as a swordsman within the city.  [1913 Webster]

  "It were no match, your nail against his horn."  [1913 Webster]
•  Suitable combination or bringing together; that which corresponds or harmonizes with something else; as, the carpet and curtains are a match.  [1913 Webster]
•  A perforated board, block of plaster, hardened sand, etc., in which a pattern is partly imbedded when a mold is made, for giving shape to the surfaces of separation between the parts of the mold.  [1913 Webster]

Match boarding (Carp.), boards fitted together with tongue and groove, or prepared to be so fitted; a surface composed of match boarding. See matchboard. -- Match game, a game arranged as a test of superiority. -- Match plane (Carp.), either of the two planes used to shape the edges of boards which are joined by grooving and tonguing. -- Match plate (Founding), a board or plate on the opposite sides of which the halves of a pattern are fastened, to facilitate molding. Knight. -- Match wheel (Mach.), a cogwheel of suitable pitch to work with another wheel; specifically, one of a pair of cogwheels of equal size.

Match, v. t. 

•  To be a mate or match for; to be able to complete with; to rival successfully; to equal.  [1913 Webster]

  "No settled senses of the world can match
  The pleasure of that madness."  [1913 Webster]
•  To furnish with its match; to bring a match, or equal, against; to show an equal competitor to; to set something in competition with, or in opposition to, as equal.  [1913 Webster]

  "No history or antiquity can matchis policies and his conduct."  [1913 Webster]
•  To oppose as equal; to contend successfully against.  [1913 Webster]

  "Eternal might
  To match with their inventions they presumed
  So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn."  [1913 Webster]
•  To make or procure the equal of, or that which is exactly similar to, or corresponds with; as, to match a vase or a horse; to match cloth.  Swift.  [1913 Webster]
•  To make equal, proportionate, or suitable; to adapt, fit, or suit (one thing to another).  [1913 Webster]

  "Let poets match their subject to their strength."  [1913 Webster]
•  To marry; to give in marriage.  [1913 Webster]

  "A senator of Rome survived,
  Would not have matched his daughter with a king."  [1913 Webster]
•  To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and a groove, at the edges; as, to match boards.  [1913 Webster]

Matching machine, a planing machine for forming a tongue or a groove on the edge of a board.

Match, v. i. 

•  To be united in marriage; to mate.  [1913 Webster]

  "I hold it a sin to match in my kindred."  [1913 Webster]

  "Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with sheep."  [1913 Webster]
•  To be of equal, or similar, size, figure, color, or quality; to tally; to suit; to correspond; as, these vases match.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

Match, n. & v.
--n.
1 a contest or game of skill etc. in which persons or teams compete against each other.
2 a a person able to contend with another as an equal (meet one's match; be more than a match for). b a person equal to another in some quality (we shall never see his match). c a person or thing exactly like or corresponding to another.
3 a marriage.
4 a person viewed in regard to his or her eligibility for marriage, esp. as to rank or fortune (an excellent match).
--v.
1 a tr. be equal to or harmonious with; correspond to in some essential respect (the curtains match the wallpaper). b intr. (often foll. by with) correspond; harmonize (his socks do not match; does the ribbon match with your hat?).
2 tr. (foll. by against, with) place (a person etc.) in conflict, contest, or competition with (another).
3 tr. find material etc. that matches (another) (can you match this silk?).
4 tr. find a person or thing suitable for another (matching unemployed workers with vacant posts).
5 tr. prove to be a match for.
6 tr. Electronics produce or have an adjustment of (circuits) such that maximum power is transmitted between them.
7 tr. (usu. foll. by with) archaic join (a person) with another in marriage.

Idiom

make a match bring about a marriage. match play Golf play in which the score is reckoned by counting the holes won by each side (cf. stroke play). match point
1 Tennis etc. a the state of a game when one side needs only one more point to win the match. b this point.
2 Bridge a unit of scoring in matches and tournaments. to match corresponding in some essential respect with what has been mentioned (yellow dress with gloves to match). well-matched fit to contend with each other, live together, etc., on equal terms.

Derivative

matchable adj.

Match, n.
1 a short thin piece of wood, wax, etc., tipped with a composition that can be ignited by friction.
2 a piece of wick, cord, etc., designed to burn at a uniform rate, for firing a cannon etc.

Etymology

ME f. OF mesche, meiche, perh. f. L myxa lamp-nozzle

THESAURUS

Match

Congreve, Congreve match, Olympic games, Olympics, a world-without-end bargain, accompany, accord, accumulate, adjust, admit of comparison, adversary, affiliation, agglomerate, aggregate, aggroup, agree, align, alliance, amass, amount to, analogize, analogue, answer to, antagonist, anti, ape, appear like, approach, approximate, arrange a match, assemble, assent, assimilate, assort with, balance, batch, be commensurable, be comparable, be consistent, be in phase, be in time, be like, be of one, be parallel, be redolent of, be uniform with, bear resemblance, bed, betrothal, blend, bond of matrimony, both, bout, brace, bracket, break even, bridebed, bring into analogy, bring into comparison, bring to mind, bring together, bulk, bump heads, bunch, bunch together, bunch up, ca, call to mind, call up, candidate, candle, check, chime, clump, cluster, coequal, coexist, coextend, cohabitation, cohere, coincide, collect, colligate, collimate, collineate, collocate, combination, combine, come close, come near, come to, come up to, compact, companion, compare, compare and contrast, compare to, compare with, compeer, compete with, competition, compile, complement, con, concours, concur, conform, conform with, confront, conglomerate, conjoin, conjugal bond, conjugal knot, conjugate, consist with, contemporize, contend, contest, contract, contrapose, contraposit, contrast, cooperate, coordinate, copy, corral, correlate, correspond, correspond to, correspondent, counter, counteract, counterfeit, counterpart, counterpose, couple, couple up, couplet, coverture, cumulate, dead ringer, decathlon, derby, dig up, distich, ditto, double, double harness, double-harness, double-header, double-team, doubles, doublet, dovetail, draw, draw a comparison, draw a parallel, draw together, dredge up, drive together, duad, duel, duet, duo, duplicate, dyad, effigy, electric light bulb, encounter, engagement, enlarge, equal, equate, equidistance, equipollent, equivalent, even, even off, event, evoke, exact likeness, face, facsimile, fall in together, favor, fellow, fight, fire, fit, fit together, flame, follow, foursome, friction match, front, fusee, game, games, games of chance, gather, gather in, gather together, gauge, get in, get together, give away, give in kind, glim, go, go alongside, go beside, go together, go with, grade, graduate, group, gymkhana, hang together, harmonize, hit, hitch, hold together, holy matrimony, holy wedlock, husbandhood, icon, idol, ill-assorted marriage, illuminant, illuminator, image, imitate, incandescent body, interlock, intermarriage, interracial marriage, intersect, isochronize, jibe, join, join together, joust, juxtapose, keep in step, keep pace with, knot, lamp, lantern, lex talionis, lie opposite, light, light bulb, light source, like, liken, liken to, likeness, line up, link, living image, living picture, lock, locofoco, look like, lucifer, luminant, luminary, lump together, make a match, make one, make up, marriage, marriage bed, marriage sacrament, marry, mass, match up with, matching, mate, mates, matrimonial union, matrimony, measure, measure against, measure up, measure up to, meet, meet head-on, meeting, mesalliance, metaphorize, mimic, miniature, mirror, mirroring, misalliance, miscegenation, mixed marriage, mobilize, model, moon, muster, near, nearly reproduce, not compare with, not tell apart, nuptial, nuptial bond, oppose, opposer, opposite number, oppugnant, overlap, pair, pair off, paragon, parallel, parallelize, partake of, partner, partnership, peer, pentathlon, photograph, picture, pit, place against, place parallel to, play, play-off, polarize, portrait, pose against, proportion, prospect, put in opposition, put together, race, raise, rake up, rally, range, rank, reach, realign, reciprocal, reflection, register, register with, relate, remind one of, rencontre, repay in kind, replica, resemblance, resemble, respond to, return the compliment, return the like, rival, rivalry, round up, rubbing, run a comparison, run abreast, run parallel, run to, runoff, sacrament of matrimony, safety match, savor of, scrape together, seem like, semblance, set in contrast, set in opposition, set of two, set off against, set over against, shadow, similitude, similize, simulacrum, simulate, sing in chorus, singles, size, smack of, sort, sort with, sound like, source of light, span, spit and image, spitting image, splice, sport, spousehood, square, square with, stack up, stack up with, stand opposed, stand opposite, stand together, stars, subtend, suggest, suit, sun, supplement, synchronize, take after, take up, tally, taper, team, team up, test, the two, threesome, tie, tilt, time, torch, touch, tournament, tourney, trace, tracing, trial, twain, twin, two, twosome, union, unite, unite in marriage, very image, very picture, vesta, vesuvian, vie, vie with, view together, wed, wedded bliss, wedded state, weddedness, wedding knot, wedlock, weigh, weigh against, whip in, wifehood, yoke

ROGET THESAURUS

Match

Similarity

N similarity, resemblance, likeness, similitude, semblance, affinity, approximation, parallelism, agreement, analogy, analogicalness, correspondence, homoiousia, parity, connaturalness, connaturality, brotherhood, family likeness, alliteration, rhyme, pun, repetition, sameness, uniformity, isogamy, analogue, the like, match, pendant, fellow companion, pair, mate, twin, double, counterpart, brother, sister, one's second self, alter ego, chip of the old block, par nobile fratrum, Arcades ambo, birds of a feather, et hoc genus omne, gens de meme famille, parallel, simile, type, image, photograph, close resemblance, striking resemblance, speaking resemblance, faithful likeness, faithful resemblance, similar, resembling, like, alike, twin, analogous, analogical, parallel, of a piece, such as, so, homoiousian, connatural, congener, allied to, akin to, approximate, much the same, near, close, something like, sort of, in the ballpark, such like, a show of, mock, pseudo, simulating, representing, exact, lifelike, faithful, true to nature, true to life, the very image, the very picture of, for all the world like, comme deux gouttes d'eau, as like as two peas in a pod, as like as it can stare, instar omnium, cast in the same mold, ridiculously like, as if, so to speak, as it were, as if it were, quasi, just as, veluti in speculum, et sic de similibus, tel maitre tel valet, tel pere tel fils, like master, like servant, like father, like son, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree, a chip off the old block.

VB be similar, look like, resemble, bear resemblance, smack of, savor of, approximate, parallel, match, rhyme with, take after, imitate, favor, span, render similar, assimilate, approximate, bring near, connaturalize, make alike, rhyme, pun.

Imitation

VB imitate, copy, mirror, reflect, reproduce, repeat, do like, echo, reecho, catch, transcribe, match, parallel, mock, take off, mimic, ape, simulate, impersonate, personate, act, represent, counterfeit, parody, travesty, caricature, lampoon, burlesque, follow in the steps of, tread in the steps, follow in the footsteps of, follow in the wake of, take pattern by, follow suit, follow the example of, walk in the shoes of, take a leaf out of another's book, strike in with, follow suit, take after, model after, emulate.

Agreement

VB be accordant, agree, accord, harmonize, correspond, tally, respond, meet, suit, fit, befit, do, adapt itself to, fall in with, chime in with, square with, quadrate with, consort with, comport with, dovetail, assimilate, fit like a glove, fit to a tittle, fit to a T, match, become one, homologate, consent, render accordant, fit, suit, adapt, accommodate, graduate, adjust, dress, regulate, readjust, accord, harmonize, reconcile, fadge, dovetail, square.

Equality

N equality, parity, coextension, symmetry, balance, poise, evenness, monotony, level, equivalence, equipollence, equipoise, equilibrium, equiponderance, par, quits, a wash, not a pin to choose, distinction without a difference, six of one and half a dozen of the other, tweedle dee and tweedle dum, identity, similarity, equalization, equation, equilibration, co-ordination, adjustment, readjustment, drawn game, drawn battle, neck and neck race, tie, draw, standoff, dead heat, match, peer, compeer, equal, mate, fellow, brother, equivalent, equal, even, level, monotonous, coequal, symmetrical, coordinate, on a par with, on a level with, on a footing with, up to the mark, equiparant, equivalent, tantamount, indistinguishable, quits, homologous, synonymous, resolvable into, convertible, much at one, as broad as long, neither more nor less, much the same as, the same thing as, as good as, all one, all the same, equipollent, equiponderant, equiponderous, equibalanced, equalized, drawn, half and half, isochronal, isochronous isoperimetric, isoperimetrical, isobath, isobathic, equally, pari passu, ad eundum, caeteris paribus, in equilibrio, to all intents and purposes, it comes to the same thing, it amounts to the same thing, what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gande.

VB be equal, equal, match, reach, keep pace with, run abreast, come to, amount to, come up to, be on a level with, lie on a level with, balance, cope with, come to the same thing, render equal, equalize level, dress, balance, equate, handicap, give points, spot points, handicap, trim, adjust, poise, fit, accommodate, adapt, strike a balance, establish equality, restore equality, restore equilibrium, readjust, stretch on the bed of Procrustes.

Contention

N contention, strife, contest, contestation, struggle, belligerency, opposition, controversy, polemics, debate, war of words, logomachy, litigation, paper war, high words, sparring, competition, rivalry, corrivalry, corrivalship, agonism, concours, match, race, horse racing, heat, steeple chase, handicap, regatta, field day, sham fight, Derby day, turf, sporting, bullfight, tauromachy, gymkhana, boat race, torpids, wrestling, greco-roman wrestling, pugilism, boxing, fisticuffs, the manly art of self-defense, spar, mill, set-to, round, bout, event, prize fighting, quarterstaff, single stick, gladiatorship, gymnastics, jiujitsu, jujutsu, kooshti, sumo, athletics, athletic sports, games of skill, shindy, fracas, clash of arms, tussle, scuffle, broil, fray, affray, affrayment, velitation, colluctation, luctation, brabble, brigue, scramble, melee, scrimmage, stramash, bushfighting, free fight, stand up fight, hand to hand, running fight, conflict, skirmish, rencounter, encounter, rencontre, collision, affair, brush, fight, battle, battle royal, combat, action, engagement, joust, tournament, tilt, tilting, tournay, list, pitched battle, death struggle, struggle for life or death, life or death struggle, Armageddon, hard knocks, sharp contest, tug of war, naval engagement, naumachia, sea fight, duel, duello, single combat, monomachy, satisfaction, passage d'armes, passage of arms, affair of honor, triangular duel, hostile meeting, digladiation, deeds of arms, feats of arms, appeal to arms, pugnacity, combativeness, bone of contention, contending, together by the ears, at loggerheads, at war, at issue, competitive, rival, belligerent, contentious, combative, bellicose, unpeaceful, warlike, quarrelsome, pugnacious, pugilistic, gladiatorial, palestric, palestrical, a verbis ad verbera, a word and a blow, a very pretty quarrel as it stands, commune periculum concordiam parit, lis litem generat.

Marriage

N marriage, matrimony, wedlock, union, intermarriage, miscegenation, the bonds of marriage, vinculum matrimonii, nuptial tie, married state, coverture, bed, cohabitation, match, betrothment, wedding, nuptials, Hymen, bridal, espousals, spousals, leading to the altar, nuptial benediction, epithalamium, sealing, torch of Hymen, temple of Hymen, hymeneal altar, honeymoon, bridesmaid, bridesman, best man, bride, bridegroom, married man, married woman, married couple, neogamist, Benedict, partner, spouse, mate, yokemate, husband, man, consort, baron, old man, good man, wife of one's bosom, helpmate, rib, better half, gray mare, old woman, old lady, good wife, goodwife, feme, feme coverte, squaw, lady, matron, matronage, matronhood, man and wife, wedded pair, Darby and Joan, spiritual wife, monogamy, bigamy, digamy, deuterogamy, trigamy, polygamy, mormonism, levirate, spiritual wifery, spiritual wifeism, polyandrism, Turk, bluebeard, unlawful marriage, left-handed marriage, morganatic marriage, ill- assorted marriage, mesalliance, mariage de convenance, marriage broker, matrimonial agency, matrimonial agent, matrimonial bureau, matchmaker, schatchen, married, one, one bone and one flesh, marriageable, nubile, engaged, betrothed, affianced, matrimonial, marital, conjugal, connubial, wedded, nuptial, hymeneal, spousal, bridal, the gray mare the better horse, a world-without-end bargain, marriages are made in Heaven, render me worthy of this noble wife, si qua voles apte nubere nube pari.

Calefaction

N calefaction, increase of temperature, heating, calefaction, tepefaction, torrefaction, melting, fusion, liquefaction, burning, ambustion, combustion, incension, accension, concremation, cremation, scorification, cautery, cauterization, ustulation, calcination, cracking, refining, incineration, cineration, carbonization, cupellation, ignition, inflammation, adustion, flagration, deflagration, conflagration, empyrosis, incendiarism, arson, auto dafe, boiling, coction, ebullition, estuation, elixation, decoction, ebullioscope, geyser, distillation (vaporization), furnace, blanket, flannel, fur, wadding, clothing, still, refinery, fractionating column, fractionating tower, cracking tower, match, incendiary, petroleuse, cauterizer, caustic, lunar caustic, alkali, apozem, moxa, acid, aqua fortis, aqua regia, catheretic, nitric acid, nitrochloro-hydric acid, nitromuriatic acid, radioactivity, gamma rays, alpha particles, beta rays, X-rays, radiation, cosmic radiation, background radiation, radioactive isotopes, tritium, uranium, plutonium, radon, radium, sunstroke, coup de soleil, insolation, pottery, ceramics, crockery, porcelain, china, earthenware, stoneware, pot, mug, terra cotta, brick, clinker, cinder, ash, scoriae, embers, soot, slag, coke, carbon, charcoal, wood alcohol, turpentine, tea tree oil, gasoline, kerosene, naptha, fuel oil (fuel), wax, paraffin, residue, tar, inflammability, combustibility, diathermancy, transcalency, conduction, convection, radiation, radiant heat, heat conductivity, conductivity, thermal expansion, coefficient of expansion, heated, molten, sodden, r_echauff_e, heating, adust, inflammable, combustible, diathermal, diathermanous, burnt, volcanic, radioactive.

Fuel

N fuel, firing, combustible, coal, wallsend, anthracite, culm, coke, carbon, charcoal, bituminous coal, tar shale, turf, peat, firewood, bobbing, faggot, log, cinder, ingle, tinder, touchwood, sulphur, brimstone, incense, port-fire, fire-barrel, fireball, brand, amadou, bavin, blind coal, glance coal, German tinder, pyrotechnic sponge, punk, smudge, solid fueled rocket, wax, paraffin wax, paraffin oil, lamp oil, whale oil, oil, petroleum, gasoline, high octane gasoline, nitromethane, petrol, gas, juice, gasohol, alcohol, ethanol, methanol, fuel oil, kerosene, jet fuel, heating oil, number 2 oil, number 4 oil, naphtha, rocket fuel, high specific impulse fuel, liquid hydrogen, liquid oxygen, lox, natural gas, synthetic gas, synthesis gas, propane, butane, hydrogen, brand, torch, fuse, wick, spill, match, light, lucifer, congreve, vesuvian, vesta, fusee, locofoco, linstock, candle, oil, carbonaceous, combustible, inflammable, high octane, high specific impulse, heat of combustion.

Discrimination

VB discriminate, distinguish, severalize, recognize, match, identify, separate, draw the line, sift, separate the chaff from the wheat, winnow the chaff from the wheat, separate the men from the boys, split hairs, draw a fine line, nitpick, quibble, estimate, know which is which, know what is what, know 'a hawk from a handsaw', take into account, take into consideration, give due weight to, allow due weight to, weigh carefully.

Identification

N identification, recognition, diagnosis, match, apperception, assimilation, dereplication, classification, memory, interpretation, cognizance (knowledge).

VB identify, recognize, match, match up, classify, recall, remember, find similarity (similarity), put in its proper place, put in its proper niche, place in order (arrangement).