{
    "term": "match",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox3000": true,
    "cefr": "a1",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a sports event where people or teams compete against each other",
            "labels": "(especially British English)(British English)(North American English, British English)",
            "cefr": "a1",
            "ox3000": true,
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a football match"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a tennis match"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a league match"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They are playing an important match against Liverpool on Saturday."
                },
                {
                    "text": "to win/lose a match"
                },
                {
                    "text": "I'll probably watch the match on TV."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Dublin took on Toulouse in their opening match of the European Cup."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Ireland **took the match** *(= won)* 2–1 ."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Mbappé had an outstanding match."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He almost made it to the final match."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He's such a keen fan, he even goes to all the away matches."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Kett fought back to tie the match."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She was injured in last week's match."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The match will be played in the new stadium."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The team had an excellent match."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They lost their match with Estonia."
                },
                {
                    "text": "They managed to level the match, then went 2–1 ahead."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He played more than 40 matches for England."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This will be her first competitive match in charge of the team."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Sports: ball and racket sports"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["boxing", "chess", "football"],
                "verb + match": ["play", "have", "go to"],
                "match + verb": ["take place"],
                "preposition": ["during a/​the match", "in a/​the match", "match against"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "a person who is equal to somebody else in strength, skill, intelligence, etc.",
            "sensetop": "a/no match for somebody (at something)somebody’s match (at something)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I was no match for him at tennis.",
                    "contextForm": "a/no match for somebody (at something)"
                },
                {
                    "text": "We should be a match for most teams."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I was his match at tennis.",
                    "contextForm": "somebody’s match (at something)"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["excellent", "good", "perfect"],
                "verb + match": ["find", "make"],
                "preposition": ["match between", "match for"],
                "phrases": ["meet your match", "the right match"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 3,
            "definition": "a person or thing that combines well with somebody/something else",
            "sensetop": "a… match for somebodya… match between A and B",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "The curtains and carpet are a **good match**."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Jo and Ian are **a perfect match** for each other.",
                    "contextForm": "a… match for somebody"
                },
                {
                    "text": "an excellent match between our goals and what your company offers",
                    "contextForm": "a… match between A and B"
                },
                {
                    "text": "Our job is to find the right match for our clients."
                },
                {
                    "text": "You need to feel confident that the candidate is the right match."
                },
                {
                    "text": "That jumper should be a good match for your trousers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The blouse and skirt are a perfect match."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["excellent", "good", "perfect"],
                "verb + match": ["find", "make"],
                "preposition": ["match between", "match for"],
                "phrases": ["meet your match", "the right match"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 4,
            "definition": "a thing that is or looks exactly the same as or very similar to something else",
            "cefr": "c1",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "I've found a vase that is an exact match of the one I broke."
                },
                {
                    "text": "This paint is a close enough colour match to the original."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She has a rare blood type, and finding a match could take years."
                },
                {
                    "text": "To forge the certificate, she needed an exact match for the paper and the fonts."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Opinion and argument"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["exact"],
                "verb + match": ["find"],
                "preposition": ["match for"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 5,
            "definition": "a small stick made of wood or cardboard that is used for lighting a fire, cigarette, etc.",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "a box of matches"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **strike a match** *(= to make it burn)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "to **put a match to something** *(= set fire to something)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "If you suspect a gas leak do not strike a match or use electricity."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He took all her letters into the yard and put a match to them."
                },
                {
                    "text": "He lit a match so they could see in the cave."
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["lighted", "lit"],
                "… of matches": ["book", "box"],
                "verb + match": ["light", "strike", "blow out"],
                "phrases": ["put a match to something"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 6,
            "definition": "a marriage or a marriage partner",
            "labels": "(old-fashioned)",
            "cefr": "c2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He was determined that his daughter should make a good match *(= find a suitable husband)*."
                }
            ],
            "topics": ["Life stages"]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "to meet somebody who is equal to or even better than you in strength, skill or intelligence",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "He thought he could beat anyone at chess but he’s met his match in Peter."
                },
                {
                    "text": "I think he's finally met his match in Lisa."
                },
                {
                    "text": "She knew she had met her match and tried to retreat."
                }
            ]
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": null,
            "definition": "a man who is chosen as having given the best performance in a game of football (soccer), cricket, etc.",
            "labels": "(British English, sport)",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "Stokes was named man of the match."
                }
            ]
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/mætʃ/",
                "audio": "ma/match/match__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/mætʃ/",
                "audio": "ma/match/match__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "noun senses 2 to 6 Old English gemæcca ‘mate, companion’, of West Germanic origin; related to the base of make. noun sense 1 late Middle English (in the sense ‘wick of a candle’): from Old French meche, perhaps from Latin myxa ‘spout of a lamp’, later ‘lamp wick’."
}