match

Word family  noun match adjective matching unmatched verb match

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++

Related topics: Sport, Colours

match1 /mætʃ/ ●●● S2 W2 noun  1  game 比赛 [countable] especially British EnglishDSGAME/MATCH an organized sports event between two teams or people 体育比赛，竞赛 It’s our last match of the season. 这是我们本赛季最后一场比赛。cricket/football/tennis etc match 板球/足球/网球等比赛 They’re preparing for a big (=important) match tomorrow. 他们在为明天的一场大赛做准备。match against/between/with the match between Nigeria and Ireland 尼日利亚和爱尔兰的一场比赛home/away match (=a match played at a team’s own sports ground, or at a different ground) 主场/客场比赛 Good teams win their home matches. 好的球队能够打赢主场比赛。 McClaire’s goal earned him the title of man of the match (=the person in a team who plays best). 麦克莱尔的进球为他赢得了“本场最佳球员”的称号。2  fire 火 [countable]BURN a small wooden or paper stick with a special substance at the top, that you use to light a fire, cigarette etc 火柴 a box of matches 一盒火柴 Don’t let your children play with matches. 不要让你的孩子玩火柴。strike/light a match (=rub a match against a surface to produce a flame) 划火柴 Peg struck a match and lit the candle. 佩格划了一根火柴，点燃蜡烛。 I tore up the letter and put a match to it (=made it burn, using a match). 我把信撕碎，然后用火柴把它点着了。3  colours/patterns 颜色/图案 [singular]CCSAME something that is the same colour or pattern as something else, or looks attractive with it 〔颜色或图案上的〕相似[相配]之物match for That shirt’s a perfect match for your blue skirt. 那件衬衫和你的蓝裙子非常配。4  BETTERBEAT/DEFEATgood opponent 好的对手 [singular] someone who is much stronger, cleverer etc than their opponent 强大的敌手，有优势的对手 Carlos was no match for the champion. 卡洛斯根本不是冠军的对手。 This time you’ve met your match, Adam Burns! I’m not giving up without a fight! 这次你棋逢对手了，亚当•伯恩斯！我不会不战而退的！ Guerrilla tactics proved more than a match for the Soviet military machine. 游击战术被证明绝对能和苏联的军事机器相抗衡。5  shouting match  (also slanging match British English)ARGUE a loud angry argument in which two people insult each other 大声的争吵 The meeting degenerated into a shouting match. 会议变成了一场叫骂战。6  marriage 婚姻SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER [singular] a marriage or two people who are married 婚姻；一对（配偶） They’re a perfect match. 他们是非常般配的一对。a match made in heaven (=a marriage of two people who are exactly right for each other) 天造地设的一对 Claire made a good match (=married someone suitable). 克莱尔的婚姻门当户对。7  suitability 适宜 [singular]SUITABLE a situation in which something is suitable for something else, so that the two things work together successfully 适合，适应；匹配match between We need to establish a match between students’ needs and teaching methods. 我们需要使教学方法与学生需要相匹配。 → mix and match at mix1(6)n COLLOCATIONSverbsgo to a matchI love going to football matches.watch a matchI watched the match on TV.play a matchWe played the match in heavy rain.lose a matchThey lost the match, despite playing very well.win a matchDo you think we'll win our next match?draw a match (=finish with the score even)United have drawn their last two matches.have a match (=be scheduled to play a match)Do we have a match on Sunday?postpone a match (=arrange for it to happen at a later time)Our first match was postponed because of bad weather.miss a match (=not play in a match)He missed two matches because of an ankle injury.level the match (=make the score level)Woods won the last two holes to level the match.clinch the match (=to win a match by scoring a goal, hitting a winning ball etc)Ronaldo clinched the match with a brilliant goal.referee a match (=be the person on the field who makes sure players follow the rules)The matches are refereed by the children's parents.a match kicks off (=it starts)The match kicks off at 3.30 pm.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + match great/brilliant (=very good to watch)We're sure it's going to be another great match.excitingThe match could not have been more exciting.thrilling (=very exciting)There were some thrilling matches at Wimbledon this year.tough (=difficult)At this stage of the competition, every match is tough.close (=with each team playing equally well)Germany won the match, although it was close.an important/crucial matchLuckily, all their players are fit for such an important match.a big match (=an important match)Are you going to watch the big match on TV?a football/rugby/tennis etc matchThere was a rugby match going on on the school field.a home match (=played at the place where a team usually practises)They have won their last five home matches.an away match (=played at the place where the opponent usually practises)This is their last away match of the season.a live match (=shown on TV as it happens)There is a live match on TV every Wednesday evening.a friendly match (=not part of a competition)Fitness is still important in friendly matches.a qualifying match (=to decide who plays in a competition)They won all their qualifying matches.a semi-final match (=between two of the last four teams left in a competition)Spain beat Russia in their semi-final match last night. phraseman of the match (=the best player in a match)Henri was named man of the match.

Examples from the Corpus

match• Doctors failed to find a match for the bone marrow transplant.• Do I fear for her chances of making another match?• A cricket match was in progress on the school sports field.• Furthermore, Gregor Townsend, the 19-year-old fly-half, had an excellent match to confirm he is a player of rich potential.• A fairytale match it is - makes one wish one were young again!• Stores will mix paints so you can get a good match for your curtains.• Chess experts expected Kadparov to win the next match.• a tennis match• The other goal in that match is quite amusing as well when he chips the goalie.• Eric scored the only goal in the match against Albany.• From what I saw of the match he played well.• Are you going to the match tomorrow?• Sir Thomas now welcomes the match that he first feared.• If we win the next three matches, we could still go through to the semi-final.• Female speaker Don't play with matches and don't play near fires.• Keith sprained his wrist in a wrestling match.man of the match• Jim Magilton, who has our vote as man of the match, had the champions at full stretch.• Jim Magilton was made man of the match but for many United fans new keeper Phil Whitehead was the real hero.• Matisse: man of the match?• But for all Warne's good work, my man of the match was definitely Merv Hughes.• Madeley was named man of the match.• It was fitting that Fowler should be the man of the match.• His goalkeeping won him the man of the match award.• Forrester unanimously man of the match in them all.put a match to• He turned on the gas and put a match to the stove so that it could warm the office.• It took her so long to roll the joint, she'd slowed down before she even put a match to it.• On the dunes Angus had put a match to the bonfire which crackled, spat, and flared up.• He broached the matter carefully while Marshall put a match to some logs in the grate.• We put a match to ours and it goes up with a rocket-like roar, heating the yurt in a flash.• Who put a match to the stake, I am in no position to know.match for• Sauvignon blanc makes a perfect match for oysters.more than a match for• You could see that he would be more than a match for some small female saint with no name.• Recaptured, he soon found that the Nuremberg gaol was more than a match for him.• Once Jonadab had threatened physical violence, the son realised that he was more than a match for his ageing parent.• Surely a Leo was more than a match for a Scorpio, nomatterhow deadly its sting.• I suspect his own life was more than a match for the movies, although he did like to imitate Hopalong Cassidy.• These days she was more than a match for his bullying!• The first Christians also knew that divine resources were more than a match for the dark powers.made a good match• Net and Manzi made a good match from the start.match2 ●●● S3 W2 verb  1  look good together 互相匹配，相称 [intransitive, transitive]SUIT/LOOK GOOD TOGETHER if one thing matches another, or if two things match, they look attractive together because they are a similar colour, pattern etc （与…）相配[相称] → matching We painted the cabinets green to match the rug. 我们把柜子刷成绿色，和地毯相配。 Do you think this outfit matches? 你认为这套衣服配吗？ a beech dining table with four chairs to match (=chairs that match it) 配有四把椅子的山毛榉餐桌5 ► Do not say that one thing ‘matches to’ or ‘matches with’ another. Say that one thing matches another.不要说 one thing ‘matches to’ 或 ‘matches with’ another. 而要说 one thing matches another.n GrammarYou say: Her bag matched her shoes. ✗Don’t say: Her bag matched with her shoes. | Her bag matched to her shoes.2  look the same 看起来相同 [intransitive, transitive]SAME two things that match look the same because they are a pair （与…）成对 Your socks don’t match. 你的袜子不成双。3  seem the same 好像一样 [intransitive, transitive] if two things match, or if one matches the other, there is no important difference between them （和…）相似，（和…）基本一致 The suspect matched the descriptions provided by witnesses. 这名嫌疑犯和目击者提供的描述基本吻合。 Their actions do not match their words. 他们言行不一致。match exactly/closely/perfectly The copy closely matches the original. 副本和原件很吻合。4  suitable 适宜 [transitive] to be suitable for a particular person, thing, or situation 使适合 SYN suit Teaching materials should match individual students’ needs. 教学材料应该满足每一个学生的需要。 We’ll help you find a home that will match your requirements. 我们会帮助你找到能够满足你需求的住房。well-matched/ill-matched a well-matched pair 很相配的一对5  connect 相关 [transitive]SUITABLE to put two people or things together that are similar to or somehow connected with each other 把〔两个相似或相关的人或事物〕联系起来match something to/with somebody/something Can you name the animals and match them to the correct countries? 你能说出这些动物的名称，并找出相对应的国家吗？ All checked-in baggage must be matched with a passenger travelling on the aircraft. 所有的托运行李必须和搭机的旅客对应。6  be equal 不相上下 [transitive]EQUAL to be equal to something in value, size, or quality 〔在价值、大小或质量上〕相匹敌；和…不相上下 His strength is matched by his intelligence. 他智力和体力相当。 Few cities in Europe can match the cultural richness of Berlin. 在欧洲没有几座城市能和柏林丰富悠久的文化相匹敌。 Fancy designer labels tend to come with fancy price tags to match. 高档的名牌服饰往往都挂配高昂的价格牌。evenly/equally matched The two candidates are fairly evenly matched. 两名候选人可谓势均力敌。7  make equal 使相等 [transitive] to make something equal to something else 使相等；使相适应match something to something Lindsey matched her steps to those of the other girl as they walked. 她们一起走着，琳赛调整着自己的脚步，和另一个女孩保持一致。 an attempt to match financial resources to need 让财政资源满足需求的努力8  give money 提供资金 [transitive] to give a sum of money that is equal to a sum given by someone else 提供与…等额的资金 The government has promised to match any private donations to the earthquake fund. 政府承诺给地震基金提供与个人捐款等额的资金。9  COMPETE WITH/TRY TO BEATcompetition 竞赛 [transitive] if you are matched against someone else in a game or competition, you are competing against them 使较量，使竞赛be matched against/with somebody Federer was matched against Nadal in the final. 费德勒在决赛中遭遇了纳达尔。n Grammar Match is usually passive in this meaning.10 match up phrasal verb a) match somebody/something ↔ upLIKE/SIMILAR to put two people or things together that are related to or suitable for each other 把…〔和…〕配对起来 The employment agency exists to match up graduates and IT companies. 这家职业介绍所就是给毕业生和信息技术公司搭桥的。match somebody/something ↔ up with My mother spent her life trying to match me up with various women. 我母亲把时间都花来张罗各种各样的女人给我认识。b) SAMEif two things match up, they seem the same or are connected in some way 相似，相同，相一致 Their accounts just don’t match up. 他们的说法根本不一致。 with The DNA samples found on her body did not match up with a sample taken from the accused. 从她尸体上找到的DNA样本和被告的样本不匹配。c) match up to somebody’s hopes/expectations/ideals etcSUCCEED IN DOING something to be as good as you hoped, expected etc 符合某人的希望/期待/理想等 SYN measure up to Unfortunately, the product’s performance did not match up to the manufacturer’s promise. 遗憾的是，产品的性能和生产商的承诺并不相符。n THESAURUSmatch if something matches something else, they look good together because they are very similar in colour or stylea black suit with a handbag and shoes to matchThe earrings matched her eyes.go with something to look good with something else – Go with is very common in everyday EnglishDo you think that blue wallpaper will go with the carpet?go together if two things go together, they look good when they are worn or seen with each other. Go together is very common in everyday EnglishThat jacket and skirt don’t really go together.The blue and the yellow go together well.complement formal if a piece of clothing or a colour complements something, it makes it look more attractiveA simple string of pearls will complement any outfit.well coordinated/perfectly coordinated if clothes, decorations etc are well or perfectly coordinated, they look good together because they have similar colours and stylesHer outfits are always perfectly coordinated.→ See Verb table

Examples from the Corpus

match• Tom's description and mine matched.• You can't go out wearing socks that don't match.• He wore motor-cyclist's leathers underneath, black and shiny, with calf-length boots to match.• For every outfit, Stephanie seemed to have a handbag and shoes to match.• Double check that you have an invoice to match every check.• Teresa got everything to match for the baby's room.• If he loves her, such feelings are changeable; an impulse to match Harriet with disappointed Frank is quickly put by.• She was wearing black high-heeled shoes that matched her skirt and jacket.• Anderson will receive a bonus that matches his base salary.• We shall have to match his fighting spirit, and not let our fear overwhelm us before the first blow is struck.• The town was getting a woozy, criminal feeling that rather matched his own.• I'm looking for a rug to match my bedroom curtains.• Wages won't go up to match prices.• GMI tries to match students with companies that will hire them.• Baltimore's economic performance has not matched that of comparable cities.• The only cars which could match the acceleration of the Ferraris were the Shelby Cobras and Aston Martins.• In the lounge everything matched; the curtains, the sofa, the carpet and the cushions.• Forming alliances with other countries was the only way to match the power of the enemy.• Otherwise, Exe Directory is a way of matching the supply and demand of research ideas.• Match the words on the left with the pictures on the right.• Their performance in government didn't quite match their election promises.• Her eyes tuned in, but her mind could not match them.• Nothing we have ever seen matches this moment.• But its sequences did not match those of herpes strains the researchers have been able to check so far.• This lipstick matches your blouse exactly.match exactly/closely/perfectly• Target words can be matched exactly as spelt or phonetically.• Everything matched perfectly, even her pink beads.• It would gain deposits, matched exactly of course by additional operational balances.• The simplest method of all, where body concealment is concerned, is to match perfectly the colour of the background.• Tailor your list of achievements to match exactly the requirements of your future position, and leave everything else off.• The structure will therefore match exactly what is achieved by the use of ordinary predicative position.evenly/equally matched• Importance of national security considerations Public opinion polls published on the eve of the election showed the two main parties evenly matched.• In strength the two sides were equally matched.• The lobbies behind them were about equally matched.• Their respective economic stopping points may not leave them exactly equally matched.• Sometimes there will be two candidates who are fairly evenly matched and there may be uncertainty about which should be appointed.• Leeds scored through Wallace with 7 minutes to go in an evenly matched game.• Outside, the sexes are more evenly matched, I admit.• When fighting does occur - as when two evenly matched individuals meet - it seldom results in injury.match something to something• We have to match our ambitions to our resources.be matched against/with somebody• Sometimes the whole experimental group is matched with a similar group at the start of the program.• Students selected a career that interested them and were matched with appropriate businesses in the city.• Therefore a certain amount of matching can always take place: contracts to buy can always be matched with contracts to sell.• Opportunity must be matched with desire.• Each strategy was matched against each other strategy an equal number of times.• Answer guide: This states that the costs of earning revenue should be matched with the revenue earned. 6.• Single-year goods are matched with the revenues that they generate.Origin match1 1. Old English mæcca2. (1300-1400) Old French meiche “wick”

match1 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1match2 verb →n GRAMMAR1 →n GRAMMAR2
→n THESAURUS1LDOCE OnlineChinese  

organized between teams Corpus or event an two sports people

match

I

match¹ S2 W2 /mætʃ/ noun1.  GAME  [countable] especially British English an organized sports event between two teams or people:
    It’s our last match of the season.
    cricket/football/tennis etc match
    They’re preparing for a big (=important) match tomorrow.
    match against/between/with
    the match between Nigeria and Ireland
    home/away match (=a match played at a team’s own sports ground, or at a different ground)
    Good teams win their home matches.
    McClaire’s goal earned him the title of man of the match (=the person in a team who plays best).
2.  FIRE  [countable] a small wooden or paper stick with a special substance at the top, that you use to light a fire, cigarette etc:
    a box of matches
    Don’t let your children play with matches.
    strike/light a match (=rub a match against a surface to produce a flame)
    Peg struck a match and lit the candle.
    I tore up the letter and put a match to it (=made it burn, using a match).
3.  COLOURS/PATTERNS  [singular] something that is the same colour or pattern as something else, or looks attractive with it
    match for
    That shirt’s a perfect match for your blue skirt.
4.  GOOD OPPONENT  [singular] someone who is much stronger, cleverer etc than their opponent:
    Carlos was no match for the champion.
    This time you’ve met your match, Adam Burns__ I’m not giving up without a fight__
    Guerrilla tactics proved more than a match for the Soviet military machine.
5. shouting match (also slanging match British English) a loud angry argument in which two people insult each other:
    The meeting degenerated into a shouting match.
6.  MARRIAGE  [singular] a marriage or two people who are married:
    They’re a perfect match.
    a match made in heaven (=a marriage of two people who are exactly right for each other)
    Claire made a good match (=married someone suitable).
7.  SUITABILITY  [singular] a situation in which something is suitable for something else, so that the two things work together successfully
    match between
    We need to establish a match between students’ needs and teaching methods.
⇨ mix and match at mix¹(6)
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ go to a match I love going to football matches.
   ▪ watch a match I watched the match on TV.
   ▪ play a match We played the match in heavy rain.
   ▪ lose a match They lost the match, despite playing very well.
   ▪ win a match Do you think we'll win our next match?
   ▪ draw a match (=finish with the score even) United have drawn their last two matches.
   ▪ have a match (=be scheduled to play a match) Do we have a match on Sunday?
   ▪ postpone a match (=arrange for it to happen at a later time) Our first match was postponed because of bad weather.
   ▪ miss a match (=not play in a match) He missed two matches because of an ankle injury.
   ▪ level the match (=make the score level) Woods won the last two holes to level the match.
   ▪ clinch the match (=to win a match by scoring a goal, hitting a winning ball etc) Ronaldo clinched the match with a brilliant goal.
   ▪ referee a match (=be the person on the field who makes sure players follow the rules) The matches are refereed by the children's parents.
   ▪ a match kicks off (=it starts) The match kicks off at 3.30 pm.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + match
   ▪ great/brilliant (=very good to watch) We're sure it's going to be another great match.
   ▪ exciting The match could not have been more exciting.
   ▪ thrilling (=very exciting) There were some thrilling matches at Wimbledon this year.
   ▪ tough (=difficult) At this stage of the competition, every match is tough.
   ▪ close (=with each team playing equally well) Germany won the match, although it was close.
   ▪ an important/crucial match Luckily, all their players are fit for such an important match.
   ▪ a big match (=an important match) Are you going to watch the big match on TV?
   ▪ a football/rugby/tennis etc match There was a rugby match going on on the school field.
   ▪ a home match (=played at the place where a team usually practises) They have won their last five home matches.
   ▪ an away match (=played at the place where the opponent usually practises) This is their last away match of the season.
   ▪ a live match (=shown on TV as it happens) There is a live match on TV every Wednesday evening.
   ▪ a friendly match (=not part of a competition) Fitness is still important in friendly matches.
   ▪ a qualifying match (=to decide who plays in a competition) They won all their qualifying matches.
   ▪ a semi-final match (=between two of the last four teams left in a competition) Spain beat Russia in their semi-final match last night.
■ phrase
   ▪ man of the match (=the best player in a match) Henri was named man of the match.

II

match² S3 W2 verb1.  LOOK GOOD TOGETHER  [intransitive and transitive] if one thing matches another, or if two things match, they look attractive together because they are a similar colour, pattern etc ⇨ matching:
    We painted the cabinets green to match the rug.
    Do you think this outfit matches?
    a beech dining table with four chairs to match (=chairs that match it)
  ► Do not say that one thing ‘matches to’ or ‘matches with’ another. Say that one thing matches another.
2.  LOOK THE SAME  [intransitive and transitive] two things that match look the same because they are a pair:
    Your socks don’t match.
3.  SEEM THE SAME  [intransitive and transitive] if two things match, or if one matches the other, there is no important difference between them:
    The suspect matched the descriptions provided by witnesses.
    Their actions do not match their words.
    match exactly/closely/perfectly
    The copy closely matches the original.
4.  SUITABLE  [transitive] to be suitable for a particular person, thing, or situation
   SYN  suit:
    Teaching materials should match individual students’ needs.
    We’ll help you find a home that will match your requirements.
    well-matched/ill-matched
    a well-matched pair
5.  CONNECT  [transitive] to put two people or things together that are similar to or somehow connected with each other
    match something to/with somebody/something
    Can you name the animals and match them to the correct countries?
    All checked-in baggage must be matched with a passenger travelling on the aircraft.
6.  BE EQUAL  [transitive] to be equal to something in value, size, or quality:
    His strength is matched by his intelligence.
    Few cities in Europe can match the cultural richness of Berlin.
    Fancy designer labels tend to come with fancy price tags to match.
    evenly/equally matched
    The two candidates are fairly evenly matched.
7.  MAKE EQUAL  [transitive] to make something equal to something else
    match something to something
    Lindsey matched her steps to those of the other girl as they walked.
    an attempt to match financial resources to need
8.  GIVE MONEY  [transitive] to give a sum of money that is equal to a sum given by someone else:
    The government has promised to match any private donations to the earthquake fund.
9.  COMPETITION  [transitive usually passive] if you are matched against someone else in a game or competition, you are competing against them
    be matched against/with somebody
    Federer was matched against Nadal in the final.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ match if something matches something else, they look good together because they are very similar in colour or style: a black suit with a handbag and shoes to match | The earrings matched her eyes.
   ▪ go with something to look good with something else - Go with is very common in everyday English: Do you think that blue wallpaper will go with the carpet?
   ▪ go together if two things go together, they look good when they are worn or seen with each other. Go together is very common in everyday English: That jacket and skirt don’t really go together. | The blue and the yellow go together well.
   ▪ complement formal if a piece of clothing or a colour complements something, it makes it look more attractive: A simple string of pearls will complement any outfit.
   ▪ well coordinated/perfectly coordinated if clothes, decorations etc are well or perfectly coordinated, they look good together because they have similar colours and styles: Her outfits are always perfectly coordinated.
     
match up phrasal verb
  1. match somebody/something ↔ up to put two people or things together that are related to or suitable for each other:
    The employment agency exists to match up graduates and IT companies.
    match somebody/something ↔ up with
    My mother spent her life trying to match me up with various women.
  2. if two things match up, they seem the same or are connected in some way:
    Their accounts just don’t match up.
    match up with
    The DNA samples found on her body did not match up with a sample taken from the accused.
  3. match up to sb’s hopes/expectations/ideals etc to be as good as you hoped, expected etc
   SYN  measure up to:
    Unfortunately, the product’s performance did not match up to the manufacturer’s promise.