match1

noun

• 1a contest in which people or teams compete against each other in a particular sport:a boxing match

• 2a person or thing that is equal to another in quality or strength:they were no match for the mercenaries

• 3a person or thing that resembles or corresponds to another:the child’s identical twin would be a perfect match for organ donation
• Computing a string that fulfils the specified conditions of a computer search: when the software finds a match, it writes the correct character
• a similar or complementary pair:the headdresses and bouquet were a perfect match
• the fact or appearance of corresponding:stones of a perfect match and colour

• 4a person viewed in regard to their eligibility for marriage, especially as regards class or wealth:he was an unsuitable match for any of their girls
• a marriage:a dynastic match

verb

• 1correspond or cause to correspond in some essential respect; make or be harmonious: [with object]:I thought we’d have primrose walls to match the bath [no object]:the jacket and trousers do not match
• [with object] put (someone or something) together with someone or something else appropriate or harmonious:she was trying to match the draperies to the couch

• 2 [with object] be equal to (something) in quality or strength:his anger matched her own
• succeed in reaching or equalling (a standard or quality):he tried to match her nonchalance
• equalize (two coupled electrical impedances) so as to bring about the maximum transfer of power from one to the other: the impedance of microphones, auxiliary equipment, and loudspeakers must be matched

• 3 [with object] place (a person or group) in competition with another:the big names were matched against nobodies (as adjective, with submodifier matched)evenly matched teams