matter /ˈmætə/I. n. 1.［c］事情，问题: Don’t enter into the matter too deeply. 切勿深究此事。That is a matter of life and death. 这是个生死攸关的问题。Medical care reform has become this country’s important public health matter. (question, stuff, issue)  医疗改革已成为该国公共健康的头等大事。for that matter就这/那一点来说，在这一问题上：He doesn't trust his partner. For that matter I can'tblame him. 他不信任自己的合伙人, 就那一点来说，我不能责怪他. 2.毛病，麻烦事 (只用sing.，与 the连用)：What is the matter? 怎么了? There is nothing the matter with the machine.这机器没有毛病。 3.［u］物质: The world is made of matter. 世界是由物质构成的。Matter exits in three states: solid, liquid and gas. 物质以三种形态存在，即固体、液体和气体。no matter how (what, when等)不管怎样(什么，何时)：No matter what you do you don’t touch this switch.不管你干什么你都不能碰这开关。 ‖II. vi. 有关系，要紧(主要用于疑问句、否定句中，不用进行时态): What does it matter? 这有什么关系? It doesn’t matter to me which way you take.你走哪条路与我无关。It matters much to us.它对我们事关重大。