- mass noun physical substance in general, as distinct from mind and spirit; (in physics) that which occupies space and possesses rest mass, especially as distinct from energy物质：
the structure and properties of matter.
物质的结构和特性。
- a substance or material物料; 材料：
organic matter
有机物
vegetable matter.
蔬菜材料。
- a substance in or discharged from the body体内物质; 排出物：
faecal matter
排泄物
waste matter.
废物。
- written or printed material书面材料; 印刷品：
reading matter.
读物。
- an affair or situation under consideration; a topic事情; 问题：
a great deal of work was done on this matter
围绕这件事情已经做了大量的工作
financial matters.
财政问题。
- Law something which is to be tried or proved in court; a case【律】（法庭审问或证明的）事项; 案件。
matters
the present situation or state of affairs事态：we can do nothing to change matters.
我们对改变事态无能为力。
a matter for/of
something that evokes a specified feeling（引起特定感觉的）事情：it's a matter of complete indifference to me.
这是我根本不关心的事。
a matter for
something that is the concern of a specified person or agency（某人或某个部门关心的）事情：the evidence is a matter for the courts.
证据是法院所关心的事。
- usu. with negative or in questions
the matter
the reason for distress or a problem麻烦; 问题： what's the matter?
怎么了？
pretend that nothing's the matter.
假装一切平安无事。
- the substance or content of a text as distinct from its manner or form文稿内容。
- Printing the body of a printed work, as distinct from titles, headings, etc.【印刷】正文。
- Logic the particular content of a proposition, as distinct from its form【逻】命题内容。
- usu. with negative or in questions be of importance; have significance要紧, 有重要性：
it doesn't matter what the guests wear
客人穿什么样的衣服并不重要
what did it matter to them?
这对他们有什么要紧的？
to him, animals mattered more than human beings.
对他来说, 动物比人更重要。
- (of a person) be important or influential（人物）有重要性; 有影响：
she was trying to get known by the people who matter.
她在尽力让那些重要人物知道她。
- rare (of a wound) secrete or discharge pus〈罕〉（伤口）化脓, 流脓。
for that matter
- used to indicate that a subject or category, though mentioned second, is as relevant or important as the first就这一点来说, 在这一问题上：
I am not sure what value it adds to determining public, or for that matter private, policy.
我不能肯定它对确定公众政策或就此问题而言, 对确定个人决策能增添什么价值。
in the matter of
- as regards至于, 关于, 在…方面：
the British are given pre-eminence in the matter of tea.
在用茶方面英国人享有杰出地位。
it is only a matter of time
- there will not be long to wait只是时间问题; 不会太久：
it's only a matter of time before the general is removed.
离将军下台不会太久了。
a matter of
- no more than (a specified period of time)不超过（一段时间）：
they were shown the door in a matter of minutes.
没过几分钟他们就被赶出了门。
- a thing that involves or depends on事关, 关系到, 取决于：
it's a matter of working out how to get something done.
这关系到如何办成事的问题。
a matter of course
- the natural or expected thing理所当然的事, 必然的结果：
the reports are published as a matter of course.
这些报告理所当然要出版。
a matter of form
- a point of correct procedure手续问题, 正确的程序：
they must as a matter of proper form check to see that there is no tax liability.
作为应有的手续他们得检查且确保没有欠税。
a matter of record
- 见RECORD.
no matter
- with clause regardless of不论, 不管：
no matter what the government calls them, they are cuts.
不管政府怎么称呼它们, 它们都是被裁减的项目。
- it is of no importance不要紧, 没事：
'No matter, I'll go myself.'
“没事, 我自己去。”
to make matters worse
- with the result that a bad situation is made worse更糟糕的是, 更严重的是。
what matter?
- Brit. dated why should that worry us?〈英, 旧〉有什么要紧, 有什么事：
what matter if he was a Protestant or not?
他是不是新教徒又有什么要紧？