matter

mat|ter1 [ `mætər ] noun ***

▸ 1 something being dealt with

▸ 2 problem/bad situation

▸ 3 situation that someone is in

▸ 4 substance

▸ 5 when time is short

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) count something that you are discussing, considering, or dealing with:

Teachers feel this is a matter for discussion with parents.

an extremely important matter

subject matter (=what a book, play, movie, etc. is about): You may find the subject matter unsuitable for younger children.

no laughing matter (=serious): Cancer is no laughing matter.

2. ) the matter used for talking about problems or bad situations:

what's the matter: You look sad. What's the matter?

What's the matter with the radio? It won't turn on.

there is something the matter with something/someone: I think there's something the matter with the printer.

there's nothing the matter (=there is no problem): There's nothing the matter with you you're just tired.

3. ) matters plural a situation that someone is involved in: THINGS:

Her angry attitude didn't improve matters.

to make matters worse: The package arrived late and, to make matters worse, it wasn't what we had ordered.

4. ) uncount a particular type of substance:

You can improve the soil by adding composted organic matter.

a ) SCIENCE the physical substance that everything in the world is made of

b ) MEDICAL the yellow substance that a part of your body produces when it is infected

5. ) singular matter of used for emphasizing how short a period of time is:

The school could close in a matter of a few weeks.

as a matter of fact

1. ) used when you are going to give more details about something:

I haven't been here long. As a matter of fact, I just arrived yesterday.

2. ) used when you are going to disagree with or correct what has just been said:

Was he in a bad mood? No, as a matter of fact, he seemed fairly cheerful.

as a matter of interest MAINLY BRITISH

used when you are asking something that is not important or not directly relevant to what you are discussing:

Just as a matter of interest, when will we be paid?

as a matter of routine/course

done as a habit or as the usual way of doing things:

You should check all your work as a matter of course.

as a matter of urgency/priority FORMAL

used for saying that something must be dealt with immediately, before dealing with anything else:

The new law should be introduced as a matter of urgency.

the fact/truth of the matter

used for emphasizing that what you are saying is true, although others may not realize or accept it:

The fact of the matter is that there isn't a clear policy.

for that matter MAINLY SPOKEN

used for emphasizing that something else is also true:

He doesn't like young women, or any women for that matter.

the heart/crux of the matter

the most important aspect of a situation:

As usual, money was at the heart of the matter.

the little/small matter of something HUMOROUS

used for referring to something important that someone has forgotten or not done yet:

There's still the little matter of my bonus to discuss.

a matter of life and death

a serious or dangerous situation that you must deal with immediately in order to prevent something bad from happening:

The peace process is a matter of life or death in some regions.

a matter of opinion/taste

something that different people have different opinions about:

Art is very much a matter of taste.

a matter of principle

something that involves an important principle:

She refers to herself as Ms. as a matter of principle.

a matter of time

used for saying that something will certainly happen:

It was only a matter of time before she left the company.

no matter how/where/what etc.

used for saying that something is not important or will not have an effect:

No matter where I am, I'm always thinking of you.

No matter how much you protect your children, they will still make mistakes.

=> MIND1

matter

mat|ter 2 [ `mætər ] verb intransitive ***

to be important:

People need to realize that education matters.

something matters to someone: Winning this award matters a lot to me.

a. it matters used especially in questions and negative statements when you are talking about whether something is important:

Does it matter if I don't take a present?

matter that: Why should it matter that he's a little overweight?

matter if: It doesn't really matter if we're a bit late.

b. it matters used especially in questions and negative statements about whether something makes a difference:

I've forgotten my swimming stuff. It doesn't matter you can borrow these.

matter that: I don't think it matters that he hasn't got a degree.

matter which/whether/how etc.: It doesn't matter how you look at it, the problem remains the same.