word-vault

{ "term": "matter", "partOfSpeech": "noun", "ox3000": true, "cefr": "a2", "definitions": [ { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "used (to ask) if somebody is upset, unhappy, etc. or if there is a problem", "sensetop": "matter with somebody/something", "cefr": "a2", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "**What's the matter?** Is there something wrong?" }, { "text": "Is **anything the matter**?" }, { "text": "Is **something the matter** with Bob? He seems very down.", "contextForm": "matter with somebody/something" }, { "text": "There's something the matter with my eyes." }, { "text": "‘We've bought a new TV.’ ‘What was the matter with the old one?’" }, { "text": "**What's the matter with you** today *(= why are you behaving like this)*?" }, { "text": "What on earth was the matter with her, she wondered. She’d come here to enjoy herself and here she was, stuck on her own in the hotel." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "a subject or situation that you must consider or deal with", "sensetop": "matter for somebodymatter of something", "labels": "(formal)(ironic)", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "It's a private matter." }, { "text": "They had important matters to discuss." }, { "text": "She may need your help with some business matters." }, { "text": "financial/legal/political matters" }, { "text": "They've agreed in theory, but now we need to discuss practical matters." }, { "text": "The matter should be referred to a senior manager." }, { "text": "Do I have any choice in the matter?" }, { "text": "I always consulted him on matters of policy." }, { "text": "It's a matter for the police *(= for them to deal with)*.", "contextForm": "matter for somebody" }, { "text": "It was a matter of some concern to most of those present *(= something they were worried about)*.", "contextForm": "matter of something" }, { "text": "It should have been a simple matter to check." }, { "text": "It was **no easy matter** getting him to change his mind." }, { "text": "Let's get on with the **matter in hand** *(= what we need to deal with now)*." }, { "text": "I wasn't prepared to **let the matter drop** *(= stop discussing it)*." }, { "text": "We have sent these concerns to Professor Tribe, and now **consider the matter closed** *(= it is finished)*." }, { "text": "I did not feel that we had got to **the heart of the matter** *(= the most important part)*." }, { "text": "And that is **the crux of the matter** *(= the most important thing about the situation)*." }, { "text": "And then there's **the little matter** of the fifty pounds you owe me." }, { "text": "The involvement of the king in legal matters was threatened by the civil war." }, { "text": "Dr Bell holds traditional views on a variety of matters." }, { "text": "That's a matter for you to take up with your boss." }, { "text": "He left, saying he had pressing matters to attend to." }, { "text": "His lawyer advised him to drop the matter." }, { "text": "I don't have much experience in these matters." }, { "text": "I don't really want to go into this matter now." }, { "text": "It is then a simple matter to print off the data you have collected." }, { "text": "It's a relief to have the matter settled." }, { "text": "She was a great source of knowledge on matters relating to nutrition." }, { "text": "The matter will be raised at our next meeting." }, { "text": "The question of his innocence is a weighty matter for this court." }, { "text": "The rest of the meeting was taken up by routine matters." }, { "text": "They talk mostly about work and related matters." }, { "text": "I wasn't sure how to approach the delicate matter of pay." } ], "synonyms": "affair", "collocations": { "adjective": ["important", "pressing", "serious"], "verb + matter": ["bring up", "broach", "raise"], "matter + verb": ["be related to", "pertain to", "relate to"], "preposition": ["in a/the matter", "on a/the matter", "matter for"], "phrases": [ "the crux of the matter", "the heart of the matter", "let the matter drop" ] } }, { "senseNumber": 3, "definition": "the present situation, or the situation that you are talking about", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to improve matters." }, { "text": "I'd forgotten the keys, which didn't **help matters**." }, { "text": "And then, **to make matters worse**, his parents turned up." }, { "text": "I decided to **take matters into my own hands** *(= deal with the situation myself)*." }, { "text": "**Matters came to a head** *(= the situation became very difficult)* with his resignation." }, { "text": "Matters were made worse by a fire in the warehouse." }, { "text": "Let me simplify matters by giving you my answer now." }, { "text": "She always arranges matters to suit herself." } ], "synonyms": "things", "collocations": { "verb + matters": ["complicate", "confuse", "make worse"] } }, { "senseNumber": 4, "definition": "a situation that involves something or depends on something", "sensetop": "matter of somethingmatter of doing something", "cefr": "b1", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "Learning to drive is all a matter of coordination.", "contextForm": "matter of something" }, { "text": "Some people prefer the older version to the new one. It's **a matter of taste**." }, { "text": "She resigned over **a matter of principle**." }, { "text": "The government must deal with this **as a matter of urgency**." }, { "text": "Just **as a matter of interest** *(= because it is interesting, not because it is important)*, how much did you pay for it?" }, { "text": "‘I think this is the best so far.’ ‘Well, that's **a matter of opinion** *(= other people may think differently)*.’" }, { "text": "It's not pure fantasy ! It's a plain **matter of fact**." }, { "text": "Getting the effect you want is a matter of trial and error." }, { "text": "That's not a problem. It's **simply a matter of** letting people know in time.", "contextForm": "matter of doing something" }, { "text": "Planning a project is just a matter of working out the right order to do things in." } ], "synonyms": "question" }, { "senseNumber": 5, "definition": "physical substance that everything in the world is made of; not mind or spirit", "labels": "(physics)", "cefr": "b2", "examples": [ { "text": "to study the properties of matter" }, { "text": "This swirling mass of energy and matter is classed as a spiral galaxy." } ], "topics": ["Physics and chemistry"], "collocations": { "adjective": ["solid", "organic", "vegetable"] } }, { "senseNumber": 6, "definition": "a substance or things of a particular sort", "labels": "(formal)", "examples": [ { "text": "Add plenty of organic matter to improve the soil." }, { "text": "elimination of **waste matter** from the body" }, { "text": "She didn't approve of their choice of **reading matter**." }, { "text": "There were small lumps of matter floating on the surface." } ], "collocations": { "adjective": ["solid", "organic", "vegetable"] } }, { "senseNumber": 1, "definition": "used to add a comment on something that you have just said, usually adding something that you think the other person will be interested in", "examples": [ { "text": "It's a nice place. We've stayed there ourselves, as a matter of fact." } ] }, { "senseNumber": 2, "definition": "used to disagree with something that somebody has just said", "cefr": "c1", "examples": [ { "text": "‘I suppose you'll be leaving soon, then?’ ‘No, as a matter of fact I'll be staying for another two years.’" } ], "synonyms": "actually", "topics": ["Opinion and argument"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be very different", "examples": [ { "text": "I know which area they live in, but whether I can find their house is a different matter." }, { "text": "That's a whole different matter." }, { "text": "I don't mind lizards, but snakes are a different matter." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "to be something serious that you should not joke about", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to emphasize a statement, especially one that is the opposite of what has just been mentioned", "examples": [ { "text": "A new car would be wonderful but the fact of the matter is that we can't afford one." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to add a comment on something that you have just said", "examples": [ { "text": "I didn't like it much. Nor did the kids, for that matter." } ], "topics": ["Opinion and argument"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that something will definitely happen, although you are not sure when", "examples": [ { "text": "It's only a matter of time before they bring out their own version of the software." } ], "topics": ["Doubt, guessing and certainty"] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "(as) the usual and correct thing to do", "examples": [ { "text": "We always check people's addresses as a matter of course." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "only a few hours, minutes, etc.", "examples": [ { "text": "It was all over in a matter of minutes." }, { "text": "The bullet missed her by a matter of inches." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to describe a situation that is very important or serious", "examples": [ { "text": "You mustn't let anyone know— it's a matter of life and death." }, { "text": "These talks are a matter of life or death for the factory." }, { "text": "Delivering on time is a matter of life and death for a small company." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "something that has been recorded as being true", "labels": "(formal)", "examples": [] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that something is not important", "examples": [ { "text": "If that doesn't work out, no matter, I'll rent for another year or two." } ] }, { "senseNumber": null, "definition": "used to say that something is always true, whatever the situation is, or that somebody should certainly do something", "ox3000": true, "examples": [ { "text": "They don't last long no matter how careful you are." }, { "text": "Call me when you get there, no matter what the time is." } ] } ], "pronunciations": { "uk": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈmætə(r)/", "audio": "ma/matter/matter__gb_1.mp3" } ], "us": [ { "pronunciation": "/ˈmætər/", "audio": "ma/matter/matter__us_2.mp3" } ] }, "wordOrigin": "Middle English: via Old French from Latin materia ‘timber, substance’, also ‘subject of discourse’, from mater ‘mother’." }