match

match1 [ mætʃ ] noun ***

▸ 1 stick for making fire

▸ 2 combination/attractive

▸ 3 when people compete

▸ 4 something that looks the same

▸ 5 marriage/partner

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count a small stick that produces a flame when rubbed against a rough surface, used for lighting a fire, cigarette, etc.:

a box of matches

light/strike a match: He struck a match and lit the candles.

2. ) singular a thing that forms an attractive combination with something else:

The curtains are a good match for the sofa.

3. ) count in tennis, a competition consisting of a specific number of SETS (=series of games)

a ) MAINLY BRITISH a GAME, especially in a sport:

play a match: This is the third international match they've played in a week.

win/lose a match: They lost the Scotland match in the last five minutes.

4. ) count something that looks the same as something else:

It was difficult to get an exact match for the paint.

5. ) count OLD-FASHIONED a marriage or a partner in a personal relationship

meet your match

to be in a situation in which your opponent is as good as you or better:

Realizing he had met his match, Wong surrendered.

be more than a match for someone

to be better, stronger, smarter, etc. than someone you are competing against:

The forwards were more than a match for their opponents.

be no match for someone

to be not as good, strong, smart, etc. as someone:

Despite having an experienced team, Villanova was no match for Lehigh.

=> SHOUTING MATCH

match

match 2 [ mætʃ ] verb ***

▸ 1 be same/similar/related

▸ 2 provide something equal

▸ 3 be attractive with something

▸ 4 provide something appropriate

▸ 5 make compete against

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) match or match up intransitive or transitive if one thing matches another or they match, they are the same or have similar qualities:

They interview the suspects separately and check that their statements match.

He matches the description of a man seen in the area shortly after Wednesday's attack.

a ) intransitive or transitive to belong to the same pair:

The glove matches one found at the crime scene.

b ) transitive to show that two things are related or the same:

Tests matched the blood on his clothes to that of the victim.

2. ) transitive to provide something that is equal in amount or level to something else:

Groups have to match any grant they receive with their own cash.

a ) to be equal to something else in amount or level:

Our office failed to match the growth of the rest of the company.

be matched by something: The rise in student numbers has not been matched by an increase in teaching staff.

match something for something: Japanese companies are beginning to match U.S. companies for size.

3. ) intransitive or transitive if one thing matches another or they match, they form an attractive combination:

The cream-and-pink quilt was made to match the decor.

She wore a green silk dress and hat to match.

4. ) transitive to provide something that is suitable for a particular situation, person, or purpose:

Courses are designed to match the training requirements of each student.

match something to something/someone: It is vital to match the software to the task.

match something with something/someone: We try to match the entertainments with the preferences of the vacationers.

5. ) transitive to make a person or team compete against a particular opponent:

match someone against/with someone: He is matched with the former champion, Spassky, in the first game.

,match `up phrasal verb

1. ) intransitive or transitive same as MATCH 2 1:

Information received from the two informants didn't match up.

a ) transitive to find something or someone that forms the right combination with something or someone else:

You have to match up the inventor to the invention.

2. ) intransitive match up to something/someone to be as good as something or someone:

The British sci-fi movie has never matched up to its American counterpart.

match up to expectations: His performance has not matched up to expectations.