Matter - English meaning

noun

An event or sequence of events of a specified kind or that has previously been referred to.

Usage examples:

The board admitted responsibility for the affair

noun

A situation or subject that is being dealt with or considered; a matter

Usage examples:

The meeting was addressed by an expert in south american affairs., what i do in my spare time is my…

noun

A situation or subject that is being dealt with or considered

Usage examples:

Foreign affairs as a leader, he's been criticized for his inexperience in foreign affairs., interfe…

noun

An exchange of diverging or opposite views, typically a heated or angry one.

Usage examples:

I've had an argument with my father

noun

A disagreement, or the process of disagreeing

Usage examples:

The children had an argument about/over what game to play., he got into an argument with jeff in th…

noun

A reason or reasons why you support or oppose an idea or suggestion, or the process of explaining these reasons

Usage examples:

Now that we've heard all the arguments for and against the proposal, let's vote on it., [ + that ] …

phrase

To think and act as if you are very important

Usage examples:

Since he got his new job, he's been very full of his own importance., he's an awful man - full of h…

verb

Take the trouble to do something.

Usage examples:

Scientists rarely bother with such niceties

noun

Effort, trouble, or difficulty.

Usage examples:

He saved me the bother of having to come up with a speech

exclamation

Used to express mild irritation or impatience.

Usage examples:

‘bother!’ she muttered

noun

A load, typically a heavy one.

Usage examples:

And laying my heavy burden in the safe hands of the luggage compartment i went to my seat and was g…

verb

Load heavily.

Usage examples:

She walked forwards burdened with a wooden box

noun

A duty or responsibility that is hard to bear

Usage examples:

I don’t want to be a burden on my children., he was burdened with debts.

noun

A person's regular occupation, profession, or trade.

Usage examples:

Experts who typically conduct their business over the internet

noun

The activity of buying and selling goods and services, or a particular company that does this, or work in general rather than pleasure

Usage examples:

[ c ] he runs a dry cleaning business., [ u ] i’m in baltimore on business., [ u ] our firm does a …

noun

The activity of buying and selling goods and services

Usage examples:

In business she is an academic, but all her brothers work in business., be in business currently, f…

noun

An instance of a particular situation; an example of something occurring.

Usage examples:

A case of mistaken identity

verb

Surround in a material or substance.

Usage examples:

The towers are of steel cased in granite

noun

A particular situation or example of something

Usage examples:

We don’t normally accept credits from courses taken at another university, but we’ll make an except…

noun

A fact or condition connected with or relevant to an event or action.

Usage examples:

We wanted to marry but circumstances didn't permit

noun

An event or condition connected with what is happening or has happened

Usage examples:

[ c ] the circumstances of the theft of the painting were not known., [ c ] the circumstances surro…

noun

A fact or event that makes a situation the way it is

Usage examples:

Under the circumstances i think she coped very well under the circumstances., obviously we can't de…

noun

A circumstance that complicates something; a difficulty.

Usage examples:

There is a complication concerning ownership of the site

noun

Something that makes a situation more difficult

Usage examples:

This complication had not been foreseen., he died from complications of diabetes.

noun

Something that makes a situation more difficult, or the act of doing this

Usage examples:

Dave couldn't find his passport at the airport and then there were further complications when fiona…

verb

Relate to; be about.

Usage examples:

The story concerns a friend of mine

noun

Anxiety; worry.

Usage examples:

Carole gazed at her with concern

verb

To trouble someone with feelings of anxiety; worry

Usage examples:

The loss didn’t bother him, but his team’s confidence concerns him., this is an issue that should c…

noun

A result or effect, typically one that is unwelcome or unpleasant.

Usage examples:

Abrupt withdrawal of drug treatment can have serious consequences

noun

A result of an action or situation, esp. (in the plural) a bad result

Usage examples:

For someone who is old and weak, the consequences of a broken hip can be serious., last summer ther…

noun

A result of a particular action or situation, often one that is bad or not convenient

Usage examples:

Serious consequences not making a will can have serious consequences for your children and other fa…

adjective

In a state of peaceful happiness.

Usage examples:

He seemed more content, less bitter

verb

Satisfy (someone).

Usage examples:

Nothing would content her apart from going off to barcelona

noun

A state of satisfaction.

Usage examples:

The greater part of the century was a time of content

noun

The state or condition of being difficult.

Usage examples:

Guy had no difficulty in making friends

noun

The fact of not being easy, or of being hard to do or understand

Usage examples:

[ u ] he has some difficulty hearing people when they speak softly., [ c usually pl ] in 1986 he ex…

noun

The fact of not being easy to do or understand

Usage examples:

With difficulty we finished the job, but only with great difficulty., difficulty of the difficulty …

noun

Extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain.

Usage examples:

To his distress he saw that she was trembling

verb

Another term for distraint.

noun

Great mental or physical suffering, such as extreme anxiety, sadness, or pain, or the state of being in danger or urgent need

Usage examples:

Emotional/financial distress, four men were rescued from a fishing boat in distress off the coast.,…

noun

An event or a group of events occurring as part of a sequence; an incident or period considered in isolation.

Usage examples:

The whole episode has been a major embarrassment

noun

A single event or group of related events

Usage examples:

That was an episode in my life that i’d like to forget.

noun

A sudden short period in which someone suffers the effects of a physical or mental illness

Usage examples:

I had an episode of severe chest pain., the fainting episode was caused by heat., he still has ther…

noun

A thing that is absolutely necessary.

Usage examples:

We only had the bare essentials in the way of equipment

adjective

Absolutely necessary; extremely important.

Usage examples:

It is essential to keep up-to-date records

adjective

(of a disease) with no known external stimulus or cause; idiopathic.

Usage examples:

Essential hypertension

noun

A thing that happens or takes place, especially one of importance.

Usage examples:

The momentous political events of the late 1980s

noun

Anything that happens, esp. something important or unusual

Usage examples:

Sporting events, a charity/fundraising event, political/world events, she later gave me her version…

noun

An activity that is planned for a special purpose and usually involves a lot of people, for example, a meeting, party, trade show, or conference

Usage examples:

Manage/plan/organize an event the marketing team is organizing an event for their new product launc…

noun

Practical contact with and observation of facts or events.

Usage examples:

He had learned his lesson by painful experience

verb

Encounter or undergo (an event or occurrence).

Usage examples:

The company is experiencing difficulties

noun

(the process of getting) knowledge or skill that is obtained from doing, seeing, or feeling things, or something that happens which has an effect on you

Usage examples:

[ u ] do you have any experience working with children?, [ u ] i know from experience that it can g…

noun

The substance or general meaning of a speech or text.

Usage examples:

It was hard to get the gist of pedro's talk

verb

Engage in chat or gossip.

Usage examples:

I need a good friend i can always gist with

noun

The main subject, without details, of a piece of information

Usage examples:

The gist of what she said was that i didn’t know what i was talking about.

noun

An event or occurrence.

Usage examples:

Altogether it was an eerie happening

adjective

Fashionable; trendy.

Usage examples:

A happening neighbourhood

verb

Take place; occur.

Usage examples:

Two hours had passed and still nothing had happened

verb

Bring (goods or services) into a country from abroad for sale.

Usage examples:

Supermarkets may no longer import cheap jeans from bulgaria

noun

A commodity, article, or service brought in from abroad for sale.

Usage examples:

Cheap imports from eastern europe

verb

To bring in products, goods, etc. from another country for sale or use

Usage examples:

We import a large number of cars from japan., he opposed efforts to allow the importation of prescr…

noun

The state or fact of being of great significance or value.

Usage examples:

The importance of a good education

noun

The quality of being important

Usage examples:

Some managers acknowledge the importance of balancing work and family, and believe it necessary to …

noun

An instance of something happening; an event or occurrence.

Usage examples:

Several amusing incidents

adjective

Liable to happen because of; resulting from.

Usage examples:

The changes incident to economic development

noun

An event that is either unpleasant or unusual

Usage examples:

An isolated/serious/unfortunate incident, a youth was seriously injured in a shooting incident on s…

noun

The feeling of wanting to know or learn about something or someone.

Usage examples:

She looked about her with interest

verb

Excite the curiosity or attention of (someone).

Usage examples:

I thought the book might interest eliot

noun

The feeling of wanting to give your attention to something or of wanting to be involved with and to discover more about something

Usage examples:

I've always had an interest in astronomy., he never seems to show any interest in his children., un…

noun

An important topic or problem for debate or discussion.

Usage examples:

The issue of racism

verb

Supply or distribute (something) for use or sale.

Usage examples:

Licences were issued indiscriminately to any company

noun

A subject or problem that people are thinking and talking about

Usage examples:

There continues to be a great deal of debate over the property tax issue., isn’t the need to hire m…

noun

An individual article or unit, especially one that is part of a list, collection, or set.

Usage examples:

The items on the agenda

adverb

Used to introduce each item in a list.

Usage examples:

Item two statute books … item two drums

noun

One thing that is a part of a list or a collection of things

Usage examples:

There were several more items on the agenda., a news item in this morning’s newspaper, basic food i…

idiom

To improve a situation

Usage examples:

Exercise can make a big difference to your state of health., putting up some new wallpaper has made…

idiom

To not change a situation in any way

Usage examples:

You can ask him again if you want, but it won't make any difference - he'll still say no., it makes…

noun

A very brief period of time.

Usage examples:

She was silent for a moment before replying

noun

A brief record of points or ideas written down as an aid to memory.

Usage examples:

I'll make a note in my diary

verb

Notice or pay particular attention to (something).

Usage examples:

He noted his mother's unusual gaiety

noun

A particular event, or the time at which it takes place.

Usage examples:

On one occasion i stayed up until two in the morning

verb

Cause (something).

Usage examples:

Something vital must have occasioned this visit

noun

A particular time when something happens

Usage examples:

Sarah loves dressing up for special occasions., she has lied on several occasions., this meeting pr…

noun

An incident or event.

Usage examples:

Vandalism used to be a rare occurrence

noun

The spongy white tissue lining the rind of oranges, lemons, and other citrus fruits.

Usage examples:

Remove the rind and white pith from the lemons and then cut the flesh into very thin slices, removi…

verb

Remove the pith from.

Usage examples:

Peel and pith the oranges

noun

The tapered, sharp end of a tool, weapon, or other object.

Usage examples:

The point of his dagger

verb

A fielding position on the off side near the batsman.

noun

A matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful and needing to be dealt with and overcome.

Usage examples:

They have financial problems

adjective

Denoting or relating to people whose behaviour causes difficulties to themselves and others.

Usage examples:

Practitioners help families develop strategies for managing problem behaviour in teens

noun

Something that causes difficulty or that is hard to deal with

Usage examples:

Financing the camp’s athletic program is a problem., he has a serious health problem., i’m having p…

verb

Begin a course of action.

Usage examples:

The consortium could proceed with the plan

verb

Present participle of proceed

Usage examples:

His lawyers have decided not to proceed with the case., preparations for the festival are now proce…

verb

Appear to be or do something, especially falsely.

Usage examples:

She is not the person she purports to be

noun

The meaning or sense of something, typically a document or speech.

Usage examples:

I do not understand the purport of your remarks

verb

To claim that something is true, but without proof

Usage examples:

The story purports to explain the origin of the game of chess.

noun

A sentence worded or expressed so as to elicit information.

Usage examples:

We hope this leaflet has been helpful in answering your questions

verb

Ask (someone) questions, especially in an official context.

Usage examples:

Four men were being questioned about the killings

verb

A sentence of inquiry that asks for a reply

noun

A faculty by which the body perceives an external stimulus; one of the faculties of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

Usage examples:

The bear has a keen sense of smell which enables it to hunt at dusk

verb

Perceive by a sense or senses.

Usage examples:

With the first frost, they could sense a change in the days

verb

The faculty through which the external world is apprehended

noun

The quality of being worthy of attention; importance.

Usage examples:

Adolescent education was felt to be a social issue of some significance

noun

Importance

Usage examples:

The discovery of the new drug is of great significance for/to people suffering from heart problems.…

verb

Be an indication of.

Usage examples:

This decision signified a fundamental change in their priorities

verb

To mean something, or be a sign of

Usage examples:

In this picture, red represents sulfur and green signifies hydrogen., [ i ] all those in favor, ple…

noun

A set of circumstances in which one finds oneself; a state of affairs.

Usage examples:

The situation between her and jake had come to a head

noun

A condition or combination of conditions that exist at a particular time

Usage examples:

I was in a situation where i didn’t have cash handy.

noun

The conditions that exist at a particular time and place

Usage examples:

Some dealers have taken advantage of the situation by adding £1,000 or more to the suggested retail…

noun

A person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with.

Usage examples:

I've said all there is to be said on the subject

adjective

Likely or prone to be affected by (a particular condition or occurrence, typically an unwelcome or unpleasant one).

Usage examples:

He was subject to bouts of manic depression

adverb

Conditionally upon.

Usage examples:

Subject to the ec's agreement, we intend to set up an enterprise zone in the area

noun

A particular kind of matter with uniform properties.

Usage examples:

A steel tube coated with a waxy substance

noun

A material with particular physical characteristics

Usage examples:

The pesticide contains a substance that is toxic to insects., surprisingly, these filmmakers opted …

noun

A book or other written or printed work, regarded in terms of its content rather than its physical form.

Usage examples:

A text which explores pain and grief

verb

Send (someone) a text message.

Usage examples:

If she was going to go she would have texted us

determiner

Denoting one or more people or things already mentioned or assumed to be common knowledge.

Usage examples:

What's the matter?

definite article

Used before a noun to refer to a particular thing because it is clear which thing is intended

Usage examples:

I just bought a new shirt and tie. the shirt was expensive, but the tie wasn’t., there’s someone at…

noun

A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved.

Usage examples:

His central thesis is that psychological life is not part of the material world

noun

A piece of writing involving original study of a subject, esp. for a college or university degree

Usage examples:

A master’s thesis, his thesis was that world war i could have been avoided.

noun

An object that one need not, cannot, or does not wish to give a specific name to.

Usage examples:

Look at that metal rail thing over there

A separate and self-contained entity

noun

A device, product, or part of nature that is not named

Usage examples:

There’s a new thing that seals plastic bags., there are some nice things in the stores on sale righ…

noun

A matter dealt with in a text, discourse, or conversation; a subject.

Usage examples:

Sleep deprivation became a frequent topic of conversation

noun

Difficulty or problems.

Usage examples:

I had trouble finding somewhere to park

verb

Cause distress or anxiety to.

Usage examples:

He was not troubled by doubts

noun

A problem, or difficulties

Usage examples:

[ u ] trouble began when he came to live with us., [ c ] she thought her troubles would be over whe…

verb

Make (someone) unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

Usage examples:

The accusation upset her

noun

An unexpected result or situation.

Usage examples:

The greatest upset in boxing history

adjective

Unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

Usage examples:

She looked pale and upset

noun

A body's relative mass or the quantity of matter contained by it, giving rise to a downward force; the heaviness of a person or thing.

Usage examples:

He was at least fifteen stone in weight

verb

Hold (something) down by placing a heavy object on top of it.

Usage examples:

A mug half filled with coffee weighted down a stack of papers

verb

Feel or cause to feel anxious or troubled about actual or potential problems.

Usage examples:

He worried about his soldier sons in the war

noun

The state of being anxious and troubled over actual or potential problems.

Usage examples:

He's demented with worry

verb

To think about problems or unpleasant things that make you anxious, or to make someone feel anxious

Usage examples:

[ i ] if you get a monthly train ticket, you won’t have to worry about buying a ticket every day., …