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Definition
A keyword: an important word to learn matter1   Show phonetics
noun
1 SUBJECT [C] a subject or situation that you need to think about, discuss, or deal with
I've been thinking about this matter for a long time.
He denied any knowledge of the matter.
To make matters worse, our car broke down!

2 SUBSTANCE [U] In science, matter is the physical substances that exist in the universe.

3 TYPE OF THING [U] a particular type of substance or thing
vegetable matter
printed matter

4 what's the matter used to ask or talk about the reason for a problem
What's the matter with your leg?
I can't help you if you won't tell me what the matter is.

5 there's something/nothing the matter used to say that there is/is not a problem
There's something the matter with the washing machine.

6 a matter of days/weeks/feet, etc used in expressions describing how small an amount or period of time is
The aircraft missed each other by a matter of feet.

7 a matter of confidence/luck/waiting, etc If something is a matter of confidence/luck/waiting, etc, that is what you need for it to happen.
Learning languages is just a matter of hard work.

8 no matter how/what/when, etc used to emphasize that something cannot be changed
I never manage to lose any weight, no matter how hard I try.

9 as a matter of fact used to emphasize that something is true, especially when it is surprising
As a matter of fact, I used to live next door to him.

10 a matter of course If something happens as a matter of course, it always happens as part of the normal process or system.
Babies were tested for the disease as a matter of course.

11 a matter of life and/or death a serious situation where people could die
Getting water to these people is a matter of life and death.

12 it's only a matter of time If you say that it is only a matter of time before something happens, you are sure it will happen but you do not know when.

13 be no laughing matter
If a subject is no laughing matter, it is serious and not something that people should joke about.
See also: subject matter

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