1. That which has mass and occupies space
   "physicists study both the nature of matter and the forces which govern it"
    
2. Some situation or event that is thought about
   "it is a matter for the police";
   - topic, subject, issue
    
3. A vaguely specified concern
   "several matters to attend to";
   - affair, thing
    
4. A problem
   "is anything the matter?"
    
5. (used with negation) having consequence
   "they were friends and it was no matter who won the games"
    
6. Written works (especially in books or magazines)
   "he always took some reading matter with him on the plane"

1. Have weight; have import, carry weight
   "It does not matter much";
   - count, weigh

Derived forms: mattered, mattering, matters

See also: interest

Type of: be, cognitive content, concern, consequence, content, exist, ill, import, mental object, moment, physical entity, piece of writing, prob [informal], problem, trouble, writing, written material

Encyclopedia: Matter