Matter vs. Topic

Matternoun

Substance, material.

Topicadjective

Topical.

Matternoun

(physics) The basic structural component of the universe. Matter usually has mass and volume.

Topicnoun

Subject; theme; a category or general area of interest.

‘A society where a topic cannot be discussed, does not have free speech.’;

Matternoun

(physics) Matter made up of normal particles, not antiparticles. (Non-antimatter matter).

Topicnoun

(Internet) Discussion thread.

Matternoun

A kind of substance.

‘vegetable matter’;

Topicnoun

(obsolete) An argument or reason.

Matternoun

Written material (especially in books or magazines).

‘printed matter;’; ‘He always took some reading matter with him on the plane.’;

Topicnoun

An external local application or remedy, such as a plaster, a blister, etc.

Matternoun

(philosophy) Aristotelian: undeveloped potentiality subject to change and development; formlessness. Matter receives form, and becomes substance.

Topicnoun

One of the various general forms of argument employed in probable as distinguished from demonstrative reasoning, - denominated by Aristotle to`poi (literally, places), as being the places or sources from which arguments may be derived, or to which they may be referred; also, a prepared form of argument, applicable to a great variety of cases, with a supply of which the ancient rhetoricians and orators provided themselves; a commonplace of argument or oratory.

‘These topics, or loci, were no other than general ideas applicable to a great many different subjects, which the orator was directed to consult.’; ‘In this question by [reason] I do not mean a distinct topic, but a transcendent that runs through all topics.’;

Matternoun

A condition, subject or affair, especially one of concern.

‘What's the matter?;’; ‘state matters’;

Topicnoun

An argument or reason.

‘Contumacious persons, who are not to be fixed by any principles, whom no topics can work upon.’;

Matternoun

An approximate amount or extent.

‘I stayed for a matter of months.’;

Topicnoun

The subject of any distinct portion of a discourse, or argument, or literary composition; also, the general or main subject of the whole; a matter treated of; a subject, as of conversation or of thought; a matter; a point; a head.

Matternoun

(obsolete) The essence; the pith; the embodiment.

Topicnoun

An external local application or remedy, as a plaster, a blister, etc.

Matternoun

(obsolete) Inducing cause or reason, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing.

Topicadjective

Topical.

Matternoun

(dated) Pus.

Topicnoun

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion;

‘he didn't want to discuss that subject’; ‘it was a very sensitive topic’; ‘his letters were always on the theme of love’;

Matterverb

(intransitive) To be important.

‘The only thing that matters to Jim is being rich.’; ‘Sorry for pouring ketchup on your clean white shirt! - Oh, don't worry, it does not matter.’;

Topicnoun

some situation or event that is thought about;

‘he kept drifting off the topic’; ‘he had been thinking about the subject for several years’; ‘it is a matter for the police’;

Matterverb

To care about, to mind; to find important.

Matterverb

To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate.

Matternoun

That of which anything is composed; constituent substance; material; the material or substantial part of anything; the constituent elements of conception; that into which a notion may be analyzed; the essence; the pith; the embodiment.

‘He is the matter of virtue.’;

Matternoun

That of which the sensible universe and all existent bodies are composed; anything which has extension, occupies space, or is perceptible by the senses; body; substance.

Matternoun

That with regard to, or about which, anything takes place or is done; the thing aimed at, treated of, or treated; subject of action, discussion, consideration, feeling, complaint, legal action, or the like; theme.

‘Son of God, Savior of men! Thy nameShall be the copious matter of my song.’; ‘Every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge.’;

Matternoun

That which one has to treat, or with which one has to do; concern; affair; business.

‘To help the matter, the alchemists call in many vanities out of astrology.’; ‘Some young female seems to have carried matters so far, that she is ripe for asking advice.’;

Matternoun

Affair worthy of account; thing of consequence; importance; significance; moment; - chiefly in the phrases what matter? no matter, and the like.

‘A prophet some, and some a poet, cry;No matter which, so neither of them lie.’;

Matternoun

Inducing cause or occasion, especially of anything disagreeable or distressing; difficulty; trouble.

‘And this is the matter why interpreters upon that passage in Hosea will not consent it to be a true story, that the prophet took a harlot to wife.’;

Matternoun

Amount; quantity; portion; space; - often indefinite.

‘Away he goes, . . . a matter of seven miles.’; ‘I have thoughts to tarry a small matter.’; ‘No small matter of British forces were commanded over sea the year before.’;

Matternoun

Substance excreted from living animal bodies; that which is thrown out or discharged in a tumor, boil, or abscess; pus; purulent substance.

Matternoun

That which is permanent, or is supposed to be given, and in or upon which changes are effected by psychological or physical processes and relations; - opposed to form.

Matternoun

Written manuscript, or anything to be set in type; copy; also, type set up and ready to be used, or which has been used, in printing.

‘Waller, with Sir William Balfour, exceeded in horse, but were, upon the whole matter, equal in foot.’;

Matterverb

To be of importance; to import; to signify.

‘It matters not how they were called.’;

Matterverb

To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate.

Matterverb

To regard as important; to take account of; to care for.

‘He did not matter cold nor hunger.’;

Matternoun

that which has mass and occupies space;

‘an atom is the smallest indivisible unit of matter’;

Matternoun

a vaguely specified concern;

‘several matters to attend to’; ‘it is none of your affair’; ‘things are going well’;

Matternoun

some situation or event that is thought about;

‘he kept drifting off the topic’; ‘he had been thinking about the subject for several years’; ‘it is a matter for the police’;

Matternoun

a problem;

‘is anything the matter?’;

Matternoun

(used with negation) having consequence;

‘they were friends and it was no matter who won the games’;

Matternoun

written works (especially in books or magazines);

‘he always took some reading matter with him on the plane’;

Matterverb

have weight; have import, carry weight;

‘It does not matter much’;

Matternoun

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

‘the structure and properties of matter’;

Matternoun

a particular substance

‘faecal matter’; ‘organic matter’;

Matternoun

written or printed material

‘reading matter’;

Matternoun

a subject or situation under consideration

‘financial matters’; ‘a great deal of work was done on this matter’;

Matternoun

something which is to be tried or proved in court; a case.

Matternoun

the present state of affairs

‘we can do nothing to change matters’;

Matternoun

the reason for distress or a problem

‘what's the matter?’;

Matternoun

the substance or content of a text as distinct from its style or form.

Matternoun

the body of a printed work, as distinct from titles, headings, etc.

Matternoun

the particular content of a proposition, as distinct from its form.

Matterverb

be important or significant

‘it doesn't matter what the guests wear’; ‘what did it matter to them?’;

Matterverb

(of a person) be important or influential

‘she was trying to get known by the people who matter’;

Matterverb

(of a wound) secrete or discharge pus.

Matter

In classical physics and general chemistry, matter is any substance that has mass and takes up space by having volume. All everyday objects that can be touched are ultimately composed of atoms, which are made up of interacting subatomic particles, and in everyday as well as scientific usage, generally includes atoms and anything made up of them, and any particles (or combination of particles) that act as if they have both rest mass and volume.

‘matter’;