Definition, synonyms and related words
plural of match
"The box held three wooden matches for lighting the campfire."
In plain English: Matches are small sticks with a flammable tip used to create fire by rubbing them against a rough surface.
"The box contains fifty matches for lighting fires."
Usage: Use matches as a noun to refer to multiple small sticks tipped with combustible material used for starting fires. Do not confuse this with the verb form, which describes making something identical or equal to another.
Third-person singular simple present indicative form of match
"He matches his opponent's speed perfectly during the final sprint."
In plain English: To match means to be exactly the same as something else or to fit together perfectly.
"The socks in my drawer do not match because they are different colors."
Usage: Use matches to describe when something corresponds exactly with another item or person in quality, appearance, or suitability. It functions as the third-person singular verb for subjects like he, she, or it, such as saying "The red shoes match her outfit."
Matches derives from the Old French mache, originally referring to an act of striking or clashing, which evolved into the modern sense of setting fire via friction. The plural form simply indicates multiple items designed to ignite easily when scraped against a rough surface.