/'mætə(r); `mætɚ/ n
1 [C]
(a) affair, topic or situation being considered 事情; 问题; 情况
*the heart/core/crux/root of the matter 问题的中心[核心/要点/根源]
* the matter in hand, under discussion, etc 手头上的、讨论中的...事
* a matter I know little about 我几乎不知道的事
* `money matters 钱财问题
* I don't discuss private matters with my colleagues. 我不和同事谈私事.
* We have several important matters to deal with at our next meeting. 下次会议我们有几件重要的事情要处理.
* (ironic 反语) There's the small matter of the money you owe me. 有件小事, 你还欠我钱呢.
(b) ~ of sth (to sb) situation, problem or result that arouses the specified emotion 引起某种情感的情况、问题或结果
*matters of growing public concern 公众日益关切的事情
* This discussion is on a matter of considerable interest to me. 这次讨论的是对我很有关系的事.
2 [U]
(a) physical substance in general (contrasted with mind or spirit) 物质（与精神相对）
*inert matter 无生命的物质
* to study the properties of matter 研究物质的特性.
* The universe is composed of matter. 宇宙是由物质组成的.
(b) substance, material or things of a specified kind （某类的）材料, 物品, 东西
*decaying vegetable matter 腐烂的植物
* waste matter, eg human excreta 废物（如人体排泄物）
* reading matter, ie books, newspapers, etc 读物
* printed matter, ie forms, leaflets, etc 印刷品.
3 [U] (fml 文) ideas or topic of a book, speech, etc (contrasted with its language or style) （书、讲话等的）思想, 主题（以别于其语言或文体）.
4 [U] discharge from the body; pus 身体排泄物; 脓.
5 (idm 习语) as a matter of fact (used for emphasis 用以加强语气) in reality; to tell the truth 事实上; 说真的; 其实
*I'm going there tomorrow, as a matter of fact. 说实话, 明天我要去那里. be no laughing matter => laughing
*for `that matter (used to indicate that a second category, topic, etc is as relevant as the first 用以指出所说的两件事物中, 後说的与先说的性质一样)
*Don't talk like that to your mother, or to anyone else for that matter. 不要跟你母亲那样说话, 其实跟谁也不要那样. in the matter of sth (dated fml 旧, 文) concerning sth 关于某事物
*I want to speak to her in the matter of my salary. 我想跟她谈谈我的薪水问题. it's all, only, etc a matter of `time (before...) this consequence is inevitable though it may not happen immediately 尽管不见得马上发生, 但一定会发生; 只是迟早的事
*It's simply a matter of time before the rebels are crushed. 把这些叛乱分子镇压下去只是迟早的事. let the matter `drop/`rest stop mentioning sth or trying to change it 不再提起或不再更动某事物
*She reluctantly agreed to let the matter drop. 她勉强同意这事到此为止. make matters `worse make an already difficult situation more difficult 将困难情况弄得更糟
*Her attempts to calm them down only made matters worse. 她设法使他们平静下来, 不想却适得其反. (as) a matter of `course (as) a regular habit or usual procedure （作为）理所当然的事; （按照）常规
*I check my in-tray every morning as a matter of course. 我照例每天早晨查看收文盘. (be) the matter (with sb/sth) (infml 口) the reason for unhappiness, pain, problems, etc (used esp in the expressions shown) （不幸、痛苦、问题等的）原因, 理由（尤用于以下示例）
*What's the matter with him? 他怎么了?
* Is anything the matter? 怎么了?
* There's nothing the matter with it. 这没有问题. a matter of `hours, `minutes, `days, etc; a matter of `pounds, `feet, `ounces, etc
(a) not more than 不多于; 至多
*I'll be back in a matter of hours. 用不了几小时我就回来.
* It's a matter of a few more miles, that's all. 最多再有几英里, 也不过如此.
(b) not less than 不少于; 至少
*It may be a matter of months before it's ready. 要准备好可能得数月时间.
* You realize it'll be a matter of days (ie two days or more) before we get news? 你明白吗, 我们至少得两三天後才能得到消息? a ,matter of ,life and `death issue that is crucial to survival, success, etc 生死攸关的事情; 成败关键
*Of course this must have priority it's a matter of life and death. 当然这一点必须优先考虑--这是成败的关键.a matter of o`pinion issue on which there is disagreement看法不同的问题
*`She's a fine singer.' `That's a matter of opinion.' ｀她是个好歌手.＇｀见仁见智吧.＇ (be) a matter of sth/doing sth situation, question or issue that depends on sth else 取决于某事的情况、问题或事情
*Dealing with these problems is all a matter of experience. 处理这些问题全凭经验.
* Success in business is simply a matter of knowing when to take a chance. 商业上的成功就在于把握时机. mind over matter => mind1. no matter; be/make no matter (to sb) (that/whether...) be of no importance (to sb) （对某人）无关紧要
*`I can't do it.' `No matter, I'll do it myself.' ｀我做不了.＇｀没关系, 我自己干吧.＇
* It's no matter to me whether you arrive early or late. 你来早来晚我都无所谓. no matter who, what, where, etc whoever, whatever, wherever, etc 无论谁、什么、何处等
*Don't open the door, no matter who comes. 不管谁来都别开门.
* Don't trust him, no matter what he says. 无论他说什么, 都别相信. not mince matters/words => mince. take matters into one's own hands take action oneself rather than waiting for others to act 亲自采取行动; 主动处理.

/'mætə(r); `mætɚ/
v [I, Ipr] ~ (to sb) (used esp in negative sentences and questions; in sentences containing what, who, where, if, etc, usu with it as the subject 尤用于否定句和疑问句; 句中含what、who、where、if等词, 通常以it作主语) be important 关系重大; 要紧
*What does it matter (whether he comes or goes)? （他来也好去也好, ）那有什么关系?
* Some things matter more than others. 有些事情更重要.
* Does it matter if we're a bit late? 我们晚到一会儿有关系吗?
* It doesn't matter to me what you do. 你做什么我都无所谓.