Entry Word: matter

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a major object of interest or concern (as in a discussion or artistic composition) <that is not relevant to the matter under discussion>

Synonyms content, motif, motive, question, subject, theme, topic

Related Words idea, point, purpose; issue, problem; body, bulk, burden, core, crux, fundamental, generality, gist, heart, kernel, keynote, main, marrow, mass, nub, nucleus, pith, purport, quick, staple, substance, sum; basis; bottom, essential, essentiality; affair, argument, debate

Near Antonyms aside, digression, interjection, parenthesis, tangent

2 something to be dealt with <we must take care of this matter before it becomes a real problem>

Synonyms affair, business, thing

Related Words problem; crisis, crossroad, emergency, exigency, juncture, strait, zero hour; concern, trouble, worry; care, lookout, responsibility; deadlock, impasse, stalemate; corner, fix, hole, hot water, pinch, predicament, scrape, spot

3 communications or parcels sent or carried through the postal system <first-class matter> — see mail
4 something that requires thought and skill for resolution <I've been thinking about the matter all night, and I believe I have a solution> — see problem 1