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   mat·ter

   /ˈmadər/

   noun

   • 1. physical substance in general, as distinct from mind and spirit; (in physics) that which occupies space and possesses rest mass, especially as distinct from energy: "the structure and properties of matter" Similar materialsubstancestuffmedium
   • ▪ a substance or material: "organic matter" Similar materialsubstancestuffmedium
   • ▪ written or printed material: "reading matter"
   • 2. an affair or situation under consideration; a topic: "a great deal of work was done on this matter" Similar affairbusinessproceedingsituationcircumstanceeventhappeningoccurrenceincidentepisodeoccasionexperiencethingsubjecttopicissuequestionpointpoint at issueitemcaseconcerntheme
   • ▪ something which is to be tried or proved in court; a case.
   • ▪ the present situation or state of affairs: "we can do nothing to change matters"
   • ▪ something that evokes a specified feeling: "it's a matter of complete indifference to me"
   • ▪ something that is the concern of a specified person or agency: "the evidence is a matter for the courts"
   • 3. the reason for distress or a problem: "what's the matter?" Similar problemtroubledifficultyupsetdistressworrybothercomplication
   • 4. the substance or content of a text as distinct from its manner or form. Similar contentsubject mattertextargumentsubstancethesissensepurportgistpithessentialsburden
   • ▪ the body of a printed work, as distinct from titles, headings, etc.
   • ▪ the particular content of a proposition, as distinct from its form.

   verb

   • 1. be of importance; have significance: "it doesn't matter what the guests wear" Similar importanceconsequencesignificancenoteimportmomentweightinterestmake any differencemake a differencebe importantbe of importancebe of consequencesignifybe of significancebe relevantbe of accountcarry weightcountinformal:cut any ice
   • ▪ (of a person) be important or influential: "she was trying to get known by the people who matter" Similar be influentialhave influencebe important
   • 2. (of a wound) secrete or discharge pus. rare US

   Word Origin Middle English: via Old French from Latin materia ‘timber, substance’, also ‘subject of discourse’, from mater ‘mother’.

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • M

     3

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

   • R

     1

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