1. C 比赛，竞赛　 a game or sports event where teams or people compete
2. S 对手，敌手　 a person who is equal to or better than another in strength, ability, etc.
3. S 相似之物，相配之物　 a thing that is like another or is suitable to be put together with another, especially by having a similar colour or pattern
4. C 婚姻；婚姻对象　 a marriage of the stated kind; a possible husband or wife
5. C 火柴　 a short thin stick, usually of wood, with a head covered by chemicals which flame when rubbed or struck against a rough surface and cause the stick to burn

　arrange a ～　安排比赛
　break off the ～　中断比赛
　broadcast ～　（电台，电视台）播放比赛
　fight a ～ of 20 rounds　（拳击）打一场20个回合的比赛
　hold a ～　举行比赛
　lose the ～　输掉比赛
　make a ～　做媒
　meet one's ～　遇到对手
　play a ～　举行比赛
　watch a ～　观看比赛
　win a ～　赢得一场比赛
　apply a ～　用火柴去点…
　blow out a ～　吹灭火柴
　buy ～es　买火柴
　light a ～　点燃火柴
　make ～es　制造火柴
　put a ～ to　用火柴去点…
　set a ～ to　用火柴去点…
　strike a ～　划火柴
　close ～　紧张的比赛
　crucial ～　决定性的比赛
　inappropriate ～　不相配的姻缘
　tight ～　势均力敌的比赛
　uneven ～　悬殊的比赛
　dead ～　划过的火柴
　wet ～　湿火柴
　boxing ～　拳击比赛
　championship ～　冠军赛
　cricket ～　板球比赛
　exhibition ～　表演赛
　fencing ～　击剑比赛
　football ～　足球赛
　golf ～　高尔夫球比赛
　hockey ～　曲棍球比赛
　tennis ～　网球比赛
　swimming ～　游泳赛
　volleyball ～　排球赛
　friction ～　通过摩擦点燃的火柴
　safety ～　安全火柴
　sulfur ～　硫磺火柴
　a book of ～es　一盒折叠（书状）火柴
　a box of ～es　一盒火柴
　～ against　同…比赛
　～ between　和…之间的比赛
　～ for a prize　大奖赛
　～ with　和…进行比赛

　The match ended in a tie.　比赛打成了平局。
　The table tennis match came off last week.　那场乒乓球赛在上周结束了。
　Who won the basketball match?　谁赢了那场篮球赛?
　We are going to have a volleyball match this afternoon.　今天下午我们要进行一场排球赛。
　In this season I've played several matches.　这一赛季我已参加了好几场赛事。
　Our side beat the other in the match.　我方在比赛中击败对方。
　Shall we go to the football match tomorrow?　明天我们去看足球赛吗?
　Bill is no match for his younger brother at chess.　比尔下棋不是他弟弟的对手。
　These two players are good matches.　这两名选手是好搭档。
　We shall never see his match.　我们不会看到谁能与他匹敌。
　The blue shirt and gray tie are a good match.　蓝衬衫和灰色领带很相称。
　These trousers are not an exact match for my jacket.　这条裤子和我的夹克衫不太配得上。
　We can't find a match for this ornament.　我们找不到什么东西配得上这件装饰品。
　Can you find the match to this glove?　你能配到一只这样的手套吗?
　Both her daughters made good matches.　她两个女儿的婚姻都很美满。
　She hoped to arrange a match between her daughter and that young man.　她希望她的女儿能和那位年轻人结婚。
　She'll make a fine match for my son.　她完全配得上我的儿子。
　They decided to make a match of it.　他们决定结婚。
　His father has approved of this match.　他父亲已经同意这门亲事。
　She lit her cigarette with a match.　她用火柴点燃香烟。
　Don't strike a match if you smell gas.　如果闻到煤气味，千万不要划火柴。
　It's very dark here, will you light a match?　这里很暗，你点根火柴好吗?
　He struck the match twice, but it couldn't burn.　他擦了两次火柴，可是点不着。
　I want to buy a box of matches.　我想买盒火柴。
　The family he was quartered with had no matches, no soap, and most of the time no cooking oil.　他所住的那一家没有火柴，没有肥皂，也常常没有炒菜的油。

 ♣ be a match for
　和…一样具有实力〔能力〕　be equal to sb in ability
　That baseball team appeared to be a match for the world championship.　那个垒球队看样子是世界冠军队的对手。
　I'm good at tennis and I'm a match for any player, but I'm no match for an international player.　我网球打得好，可以和任何对手打，可我不是世界级选手的对手。
　The athlete had been training hard for three years and now he was a match for any of the contenders for the gold medal.　这位运动员经过了3年的刻苦训练，此时已具备了同任何人争夺金牌的实力。
 ♣ match point
　在比赛中赢得关键的一分即赢得全部比赛的胜利　point that, if gained, wins the whole match for a competitor
　The players have won two sets each, but the champion now has match point in the final set.　两名运动员各赢了两局，但冠军现在已赢了决胜局的一分。
 ♣ meet one's match
　遇到对手；碰到棘手的事　deal with sb who is as able as oneself; have trouble
　The wrestler finally met his match.　这个摔跤手终于遇到了劲敌。
　She has finally met her match at arguing.　她在辩论时终于遇到了对手。
　He thought he could beat anyone at tennis, but he's met his match in Tom.　他原以为自己能够击败任何网球选手，可现在他却遇上了汤姆这个对手。
　I thought I knew quite a lot about electrical things, but when I was given this old radio to repair I had to admit that I'd met my match.　我原来以为自己对电器懂得不少，但当人家让我修理这台旧收音机时，我不得不承认事情有点不大好对付。
 ♣ more than a match for
　更好　better than
　Strong and healthy, he was more than a match for young men in farm work.　他身强力壮，干农活胜过年轻人。
　The captain of destroyer prepared to engage the cruiser, although he knew the enemy's eight-inch guns were more than a match for his limited power.　虽然驱逐舰舰长知道敌人8英寸口径的炮的火力远远超过他的舰载火力，但他还是决心与敌人的巡洋舰交战。
 ♣ whole shooting match
　全部东西　everything
　I sold my house, car, furniture—indeed the whole shooting match.　我卖了我的房子、汽车、家具以及全部东西。

 ♣ match, game, play, sport, tournament
　参见game条。

1. vt.使较量，使比赛　 be like or suitable for use with (another or each other), especially in colour or pattern
2. vt. & vi.（使）相配；（使）相称　 make suitable

　～ the story　配得上这个故事
　～ boldly　无畏地比赛
　～ equally　不相上下
　～ nicely　很相配
　～ well　配合得很好
　～ up　（使）协调，（使）配合
　～ A against B　使甲和乙相匹敌
　～ in　在…上比较
　～ with　和…相配

　Those two shoes don't match.　那两只鞋不是一双。
　Rose's clothes and hat don't match.　罗丝的衣服和帽子不协调。
　The colours match well.　颜色很协调。
　Sometimes his inner thoughts and his outer actions do not match.　他有时表里不一。
　No one can match him in argument.　在辩论上没人抵得过他。
　You can't match him in knowledge of wild plants.　在对野生植物的了解方面，你无法与他相比。
　Their defensive strength could not quite match our forces.　他们的防御力量不大能与我们抗衡。
　Can any country match France for good wine?　有哪个国家的美酒能和法国的相比?
　The carpets should match the curtains.　地毯应和窗帘相配。
　That dress matches her red hair.　那件连衣裙和她的红头发很相配。
　I need some yellow wool like this; can you match it please?　我需要这样的黄毛线，你能给添配些吗?
　She went all over town but was unable to match this piece of material.　她走遍全城都找不到能和这段衣料相配的料子。
　He was trying to find a vase to match the remaining one of a pair.　一对花瓶只剩下一个了，他在设法另找一个来配成一对。
　The picture matches the story.　这张图画配得上这个故事。
　A galaxy of twinkling stars matched the thousands of sparkling city lights.　闪烁的繁星与城内闪耀的万家灯火交相辉映。
　His look matches his mood.　他有什么情绪就流露出什么表情。
　I doubt if his deeds would match his stirring words.　我怀疑他的行动是否会与他那激动人心的话是一致的。
　No two players could be more evenly matched.　再也找不到两个这样势均力敌的选手了。
　John and Henry will be matched in the final.　约翰和亨利将在决赛中对阵。
　They are equally matched in their know-ledge of Chinese.　他们的汉语知识水平旗鼓相当。
　The criminal was very astute and well matched the detective in intelligence.　这个罪犯非常狡猾，足以对付侦探的机智。
　This hotel can't be matched for good service and food.　这家旅馆在服务与膳食方面是无与伦比的。
　The children are carefully matched to the couples who are adopting them.　孩子们被慎重地安排给了适合领养他们的夫妇。
　I'll match you the dress.　我会给你找和这件衣服相配的料子。
　Can you match the silk for me?　你能为我找一块和这相配的绸子吗?
　Can you match a pen cap for me?　你能给我配个笔帽吗?

 ♣ match against　(v.+prep.)
1. 与…相比或相配 equal; compare sth with sth
　How can we match our generosity against theirs?　我们怎么能和他们的慷慨大方相比呢?
2. 使与（某人）进行比赛；使与…比试 arrange a fight between (sb) and an opponent; oppose sth to sth
　They matched the American baseball-players against the Japanese.　他们安排了美国棒球队和日本队比赛。
　He matched his dog against his neighbour's in a race.　他让他的狗和邻居的狗赛跑。
　Are you willing to match your skill against that of our leading player?　你愿意拿出你的本事来同我们的主力队员比比看吗?
　If you match that material against this you will find that one is slightly lighter than the other.　如果你把那段料子和这段料子相比较，就会看出那段比这段颜色浅些。
　He was eager to match his knowledge against mine.　他很想和我比比，看谁的知识更丰富。
　The youth is ready to match strength against you.　这个年轻人准备同你比一比力气。
　Herbert will be matched against Jay in the semifinal.　赫伯特将在半决赛中和杰伊较量。
 ♣ match up　(v.+adv.)
　相配；相适合；使…相符合　(cause to) fit; suit
　The whole outfit matches up beautifully.　整套衣服配合得很协调。
　The coat was not bought at the same time as the trousers, but they match up well enough to be considered a suit.　这件上衣和这条裤子不是同时买的，但十分相配。别人都以为是一套。
　I found it difficult to match up the different versions of the event by the two eye-witnesses.　我发觉那次事件的两位目击者的不同说法很难对得起头来。
　How do you match up these opposing pieces of information from two different government departments?　从两个不同的政府部门所得到的这些情报资料是矛盾的，你怎么能使它们一致起来?
　I can't match up the two halves of the photograph. A bit is missing from the middle.　我无法将照片的两半张拼合起来，中间少了一点点。
 ♣ match up to　(v.+adv.+prep.)
　与…一致〔相合〕　be equal to or the same as (sth such as an idea)
　The imitation hardly matches up to the original.　这个仿制品简直不能同原件相比。
　Do you think the book matches up to its enthusiastic review?　你认为这本书配得上对它所作的热情评论吗?
　He tries to match up to the situation.　他努力与形势相适应。
 ♣ match with　(v.+prep.)
　使…较量；与…相配；使与…一致　(cause to) contest; balance; equal
　Let beggars match with beggars.　龙配龙，凤配凤。
　This ribbon matches with your dress.　这条缎带跟你的衣服很相称。
　It's hard to find words that match well with this music.　很难给这首曲子配上合适的歌词。
　The curtains do not match with the decorations.　窗帘和室内的装饰品不协调。
　We'll match him with Jones. They are both good boxers.　我们会让他和琼斯较量，他俩都是好拳击手。
　I can match your story with another.　我能讲一个故事来和你的故事媲美。
　We should match their generosity with our own.　我们应该像他们一样慷慨大方。
　I should be pleased to match my daughter with your son, so that we could become even closer friends.　我很高兴把女儿许配给你的儿子，这样我们就会成为更亲近的朋友了。
　You should match the design at the edge of one length of paper with that at the edge of the one next to it.　你糊墙纸时，应当使纸边上的图案和与之相接的一张的图案相吻合。
　Take care to match the sewing thread with the cloth so that the stitches, being of the same colour, will not show.　要尽量使线的颜色和布相配，这样就看不出线缝了。
　The government has promised to match the council's gift to the university with an equal payment.　政府答应给这所大学一笔数目与那个委员会的赠款相当的钱。
　I matched the color of my sweater with the color of my shirt.　我使毛线衫的颜色和裙子的颜色协调起来。
　You should match words with action.　你应当言行一致。
　You didn't match your words with deeds.　你的言行不一致。

 ♣ match, rival
　这两个词的共同意思是“相比”。其区别在于：match着重指在力量、完美程度方面比得过、比得上；rival通常指在竞争中显示出强或优于与之相比的对象。例如：
　No one could match the skill of the well-known archer.　没有哪个人的技艺能比得上那位出名的射箭运动员。
　Ships cannot rival aircraft for speed.　在速度方面轮船无法与飞机相比。
 ♣ match, approach, equal, touch
　参见equal条。
 ♣ match, adjust, fit
　参见fit条。
 ♣ 下列两句的意思相同：
　

1. 他急于要在知识上和我比高低。
　［误］ He was eager to match his know-ledge to mine.
　［正］ He was eager to match his know-ledge against mine.
　［正］ He was eager to match his know-ledge with mine.
　［析］ 表示“与…相对照”“与…相对比”，可用match...against〔with〕...，其中介词不可用to.
2. 公爵把女儿嫁给了国王的儿子。
　［误］ The duke matched his daughter to the king's son.
　［正］ The duke matched his daughter with the king's son.
　［析］ match有时可表示“联姻”，介词须用with，不可用to.

　［同义词］ n. competition, contest, game; couple, pair, twin v. compete, contend, rival, agree, combine, compare, relate, unite
　［反义词］ v. clash, separate
　［词源］　古英语gemæcca（成双，匹配）
　<　古法语meiche（灯芯）<希腊语muxa（灯喷嘴，灯芯）