Adjacent Words

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MATCH, n.
1. Some very combustible substance used for catching fire from a spark, as hemp, flax, cotton, tow dipped in sulphur, or a species of dry wood,called vulgarly touch-wood.
2. A rope or cord made of hempen tow, composed of three strands slightly twisted, and again covered with tow and boiled in the lees of old wine. This when lighted at one end, retains fire and burns slowly till consumed. It is used in firing artillery, etc.
MATCH, n.
1. A person who is equal to another in strength or other quality; one able to cope with another.
Government--makes an innocent man of the lowest ranks a match for the mightiest of his fellow subjects.
2. One that suits or tallies with another; or any thing that equals another.
3. Union by marriage.
Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other matches than those of its own making.
In popular language, it is applied to the engagement of lovers before marriage.
4. One to be married.
She inherited a fair fortune of her own--and was looked upon as the richest match in the west.
MATCH, n. [Gr. a battle, a fight.] A context; competition for victory; or a union of parties for contest; as in games or sports.
A solemn match was made; he lost the prize.
MATCH, v.t. To equal.
No settled senses of the world can match
The pleasure of that madness.
1. To show an equal.
No history or antiquity can match his policies and his conduct.
2. To oppose as equal; to set against as equal in contest.
Eternal might
To match with their inventions they presumed.
So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn.
3. To suit; to make equal; to proportion.
Let poets match their subject to their strength--
--To match patterns and colors.
4. To marry; to give in marriage.
A senator of Rome, while Rome survived,
Would not have match'd his daughter with a king.
5. To purify vessels by burning a match in them.
MATCH, v.i. To be united in marriage.
I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.
Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with sheep.
1. To suit; to correspond; to be of equal size,figure or quality; to tally. We say of a piece of cloth, it does not match with another.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: lighter consisting of a thin piece of wood or cardboard tipped with combustible chemical; ignites with friction; "he always carries matches to light his pipe"; "as long you've a lucifer to light your fag" [syn: match, lucifer, friction match]
2: a formal contest in which two or more persons or teams compete
3: a burning piece of wood or cardboard; "if you drop a match in there the whole place will explode"
4: an exact duplicate; "when a match is found an entry is made in the notebook" [syn: match, mate]
5: the score needed to win a match
6: a person regarded as a good matrimonial prospect [syn: catch, match]
7: a person who is of equal standing with another in a group [syn: peer, equal, match, compeer]
8: a pair of people who live together; "a married couple from Chicago" [syn: couple, mates, match]
9: something that resembles or harmonizes with; "that tie makes a good match with your jacket" v
1: be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics; "The two stories don't agree in many details"; "The handwriting checks with the signature on the check"; "The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun" [syn: match, fit, correspond, check, jibe, gibe, tally, agree] [ant: disaccord, disagree, discord]
2: provide funds complementary to; "The company matched the employees' contributions"
3: bring two objects, ideas, or people together; "This fact is coupled to the other one"; "Matchmaker, can you match my daughter with a nice young man?"; "The student was paired with a partner for collaboration on the project" [syn: match, mate, couple, pair, twin]
4: be equal to in quality or ability; "Nothing can rival cotton for durability"; "Your performance doesn't even touch that of your colleagues"; "Her persistence and ambition only matches that of her parents" [syn: equal, touch, rival, match]
5: make correspond or harmonize; "Match my sweater" [syn: match, fit]
6: satisfy or fulfill; "meet a need"; "this job doesn't match my dreams" [syn: meet, match, cope with]
7: give or join in marriage
8: set into opposition or rivalry; "let them match their best athletes against ours"; "pit a chess player against the Russian champion"; "He plays his two children off against each other" [syn: pit, oppose, match, play off]
9: be equal or harmonize; "The two pieces match"
10: make equal, uniform, corresponding, or matching; "let's equalize the duties among all employees in this office"; "The company matched the discount policy of its competitors" [syn: equal, match, equalize, equalise, equate]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English macche, from Old English gemæcca mate, equal; akin to Old English macian to make — more at make Date: before 12th century 1. a. a person or thing equal or similar to another b. one able to cope with another c. an exact counterpart 2. a pair suitably associated <carpet and curtains are a match> 3. a. a contest between two or more parties <a golf match> <a soccer match> <a shouting match> b. a contest (as in tennis or volleyball) completed when one player or side wins a specified number of sets or games 4. a. a marriage union b. a prospective partner in marriage II. verb Date: 14th century transitive verb 1. a. to encounter successfully as an antagonist b. (1) to set in competition or opposition (2) to provide with a worthy competitor c. to set in comparison 2. to join or give in marriage 3. a. (1) to put in a set possessing equal or harmonizing attributes (2) to cause to correspond ; suit <matched programs to local needs> b. (1) to be the counterpart of; also to compare favorably with (2) to harmonize with <the jacket matched the pants> c. to provide with a counterpart d. to provide funds complementary to <employers may match the employee contribution — D. J. Miller> 4. to fit together or make suitable for fitting together 5. a. to flip or toss (coins) and compare exposed faces b. to toss coins with intransitive verb to be a counterpart • matchable adjective • matcher noun III. noun Etymology: Middle English macche, mecche candlewick, from Anglo-French meche Date: 1549 1. a chemically prepared wick or cord formerly used in firing firearms or powder 2. a short slender piece of flammable material (as wood) tipped with a combustible mixture that bursts into flame when slightly heated through friction (as by being scratched against a rough surface)

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. 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. Phrases and idioms: 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. Derivatives: matchable adj. Etymology: OE gemæcca mate, companion, f. Gmc 2. 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

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Match Match, n. [OE. macche, F. m[`e]che, F. m[`e]che, fr. L. myxa a lamp nozzle, Gr. ? 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 dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium. Match box, a box for holding matches. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Match Match, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matched; p. pr. & vb. n. Matching.] 1. To be a mate or match for; to be able to complete with; to rival successfully; to equal. No settled senses of the world can match The pleasure of that madness. --Shak. 2. 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. No history or antiquity can matchis policies and his conduct. --South. 3. To oppose as equal; to contend successfully against. Eternal might To match with their inventions they presumed So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn. --Milton. 4. 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. ``Matching of patterns and colors.'' --Swift. 5. To make equal, proportionate, or suitable; to adapt, fit, or suit (one thing to another). Let poets match their subject to their strength. --Roscommon. 6. To marry; to give in marriage. A senator of Rome survived, Would not have matched his daughter with a king. --Addison. 7. 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. Matching machine, a planing machine for forming a tongue or a groove on the edge of a board.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Consolation game Con`so*la"tion game, match match, pot pot, race race, etc. A game, match, etc., open only to losers in early stages of contests.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Match Match, n. [OE. macche, AS. gem[ae]cca; 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.] 1. A person or thing equal or similar to another; one able to mate or cope with another; an equal; a mate. Government . . . makes an innocent man, though of the lowest rank, a match for the mightiest of his fellow subjects. --Addison. 2. 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; as, specifically: (a) A contest to try strength or skill, or to determine superiority; an emulous struggle. ``Many a warlike match.'' --Drayton. A solemn match was made; he lost the prize. --Dryden. (b) A matrimonial union; a marriage. 3. An agreement, compact, etc. ``Thy hand upon that match.'' --Shak. Love doth seldom suffer itself to be confined by other matches than those of its own making. --Boyle. 4. A candidate for matrimony; one to be gained in marriage. ``She . . . was looked upon as the richest match of the West.'' --Clarendon. 5. Equality of conditions in contest or competition. It were no match, your nail against his horn. --Shak. 6. Suitable combination or bringing together; that which corresponds or harmonizes with something else; as, the carpet and curtains are a match. 7. (Founding) 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. Match boarding (Carp.), boards fitted together with tongue and groove, or prepared to be so fitted. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Match Match, v. i. 1. To be united in marriage; to mate. I hold it a sin to match in my kindred. --Shak. Let tigers match with hinds, and wolves with sheep. --Dryden. 2. To be of equal, or similar, size, figure, color, or quality; to tally; to suit; to correspond; as, these vases match.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(matches, matching, matched) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. A match is an organized game of football, tennis, cricket, or some other sport. (mainly BRIT) He was watching a football match... France won the match 28-19. = game N-COUNT 2. A match is a small wooden stick with a substance on one end that produces a flame when you rub it along the rough side of a matchbox. ...a packet of cigarettes and a box of matches. N-COUNT 3. If something of a particular colour or design matches another thing, they have the same colour or design, or have a pleasing appearance when they are used together. Her nails were painted bright red to match her dress... All the chairs matched... You don't have to match your lipstick exactly to your outfit... Mix and match your tableware and textiles from the new Design House collection. V-RECIP: V n, pl-n V, V n to/with n, V pl-n • Match up means the same as match. The pillow cover can match up with the sheets... Because false eyelashes come in various lengths and shades, it's so easy to match them up with your own. PHRASAL VERB: V P with/to n, V n P with/to n 4. If something such as an amount or a quality matches with another amount or quality, they are both the same or equal. If you match two things, you make them the same or equal. Their strengths in memory and spatial skills matched... Our value system does not match with their value system. ...efforts to match demand with supply by building new schools. V-RECIP: pl-n V, V with n, V n with n, also V pl-n 5. If one thing matches another, they are connected or suit each other in some way. The students are asked to match the books with the authors... It can take time and effort to match buyers and sellers... The sale would only go ahead if the name and number matched... Pictures of road signs are matched with their Highway Code meanings. V-RECIP: V n with/to n, V pl-n, pl-n V, be V-ed with n • Match up means the same as match. The consultant seeks to match up jobless professionals with small companies in need of expertise... They compared the fat intake of groups of vegetarians and meat eaters, and matched their diets up with levels of harmful blood fats... My sister and I never really matched up... I'm sure that yellow lead matched up to that yellow socket. PHRASAL VERB: V P n (not pron) with n, V n P with n, pl-n V P, V P to/with n, also V P pl-n 6. If a combination of things or people is a good match, they have a pleasing effect when placed or used together. Helen's choice of lipstick was a good match for her skin-tone... Moira was a perfect match for him. N-SING: adj N 7. If you match something, you are as good as it or equal to it, for example in speed, size, or quality. They played some fine attacking football, but I think we matched them in every respect... VERB: V n 8. In a sport or other contest, if you match one person or team against another, in sports or other contests, you make them compete with each other to see which one is better. The finals of the Championship begin today, matching the United States against France... VERB: V n with/against n 9. see also matched, matching 10. If you meet your match, you find that you are competing or fighting against someone who you cannot beat because they are as good as you, or better than you. I had finally met my match in power and intellect. PHRASE: V inflects 11. If one person or thing is no match for another, they are unable to compete successfully with the other person or thing. I was no match for a man with such power... PHRASE: v-link PHR, PHR n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. 1. Equal, mate, companion, tally. 2. Competition, trial, contest. 3. Union, marriage. II. v. a. 1. Rival, equal. 2. Adapt, suit, fit, proportion, make equal, make harmonize. 3. Marry, give in marriage, mate. 4. Join, combine, couple, sort. 5. Pit, oppose. III. v. n. 1. Be married, mate. 2. Suit, correspond, tally, be proportionate.

Moby Thesaurus

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