Match (măch), n. [OE. macche, F. mèche, F. mèche, fr. L. myxa a lamp nozzle, Gr. myxa mucus, nostril, a lamp nozzle. Cf. Mucus.] Anything used for catching and retaining or communicating fire, made of some substance which takes fire readily, or remains burning some time; esp., a small strip or splint of wood or cardboard dipped at one end in a substance which can be easily ignited by friction, as a preparation of phosphorus or chlorate of potassium.
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Match tub, a tub with a perforated cover for holding slow matches for firing cannon, esp. on board ship. The tub contains a little water in the bottom, for extinguishing sparks from the lighted matches. -- Quick match, threads of cotton or cotton wick soaked in a solution of gunpowder mixed with gum arabic and boiling water and afterwards strewed over with mealed powder. It burns at the rate of one yard in thirteen seconds, and is used as priming for heavy mortars, fireworks, etc. -- Slow match, slightly twisted hempen rope soaked in a solution of limewater and saltpeter or washed in a lye of water and wood ashes. It burns at the rate of four or five inches an hour, and is used for firing cannon, fireworks, etc.
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Match, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Matched (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Matching.] 1. To be a mate or match for; to be able to complete with; to rival successfully; to equal.
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No settled senses of the world can match
The pleasure of that madness. Shak.
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2. To furnish with its match; to bring a match, or equal, against; to show an equal competitor to; to set something in competition with, or in opposition to, as equal.
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No history or antiquity can matchis policies and his conduct. South.
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3. To oppose as equal; to contend successfully against.
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Eternal might
To match with their inventions they presumed
So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn. Milton.
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4. To make or procure the equal of, or that which is exactly similar to, or corresponds with; as, to match a vase or a horse; to match cloth. “Matching of patterns and colors.” Swift.
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5. To make equal, proportionate, or suitable; to adapt, fit, or suit (one thing to another).
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Let poets match their subject to their strength. Roscommon.
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6. To marry; to give in marriage.
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A senator of Rome survived,
Would not have matched his daughter with a king. Addison.
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7. To fit together, or make suitable for fitting together; specifically, to furnish with a tongue and a groove, at the edges; as, to match boards.
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Matching machine, a planing machine for forming a tongue or a groove on the edge of a board.
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