Added 3 October 2026
match
/mæt͡ʃ/ noun
In Latin: certāmen Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about match at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Any contest or trial of strength or skill, or to determine superiority.
My local team are playing in a match against their arch-rivals today.
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A competitive sporting event such as a boxing meet, a baseball game, or a cricket match.
My local team are playing in a match against their arch-rivals today.
- Equality of conditions in contest or competition.
verb
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To agree; to be equal; to correspond.
Their interests didn't match, so it took a long time to agree what to do together.
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To agree with; to be equal to; to correspond to.
His interests didn't match her interests.
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To equal or exceed in achievement.
She matched him at every turn: anything he could do, she could do as well or better.
noun
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A small wooden stick specially treated with chemicals to produce flame upon contact with another chemical, from the frictional heat produced by striking it against a surface, or both; other similar items made from chemically-treated paper, cardboard, etc.
He struck a match and lit his pipe.
- Synonym of taper, a thin stick used to transfer flame, as from tender to a candle.
- Synonym of fuse, a long wick used to transfer flame to an explosive device.
Origin
From Middle English macche, mecche, from Old English mæċċa, ġemæċċa (“companion, mate, wife, one suited to another”), from Proto-West Germanic *makkjō, *gamakkjō (“partner, equal”), from Proto-Germanic *makô, from Proto-Indo-European *mag- (“to knead, work”). Compare Danish mage (“mate”), Icelandic maki (“spouse”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)