matter

noun (SITUATION)

/ˈmæt.ər/

/ˈmæt̬.ɚ/

Definition

B2 [C] a situation or subject that is being dealt with or considered: Could I talk to you about a personal matter? Alois denied any knowledge of the matter. Will you phone me back - it's a matter of some importance. Talking about the world's problems is one thing, but solving them is another matter altogether (= is completely different).Topics and areas of interest matters [plural] › the situation being dealt with or being discussed: Her resignation is not going to help matters.Topics and areas of interest to make matters worse B2 used to say that something has made a bad or difficult situation worse: Three of our players were ill, and to make matters worse, our main scorer had broken his ankle.Deteriorating and making worse be a matter of confidence, luck, waiting, etc. C2 If something is a matter of confidence, luck, waiting, etc. that is all you need for it to happen: Baking a cake isn't difficult - it's just a matter of following the recipe.Easiness and simplicity be no laughing matter C2 to be very serious and not a situation that people should joke about: Being arrested by the police is no laughing matter.Serious and severeSevere

(Definition of matter noun (SITUATION) from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)