WordGarden.iomatchstick
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈætʃstɪk/
US
- /ˈmætʃstɪk/Canadanoun
Meanings
Noun
a small stick tipped with a chemical head that ignites when struck
Beyond the definition
A matchstick is a small wooden stick with a special tip that can make a flame when you strike it against a rough surface. People use it to light candles, stoves, campfires, or cigarettes. It is a simple everyday object, usually kept in a matchbox.
The word can also describe something that looks long, thin, and light, especially in informal comparisons. For example, people may talk about matchstick legs or use matchsticks in simple crafts and models.
A matchstick is a very small stick, usually made of wood or stiff paper, with a chemical head that catches fire when struck in the right way. Its main purpose is to produce a small flame for lighting something else, such as a candle, gas stove, fireplace, or campfire. Most are sold in a matchbox or matchbook, and many are made for single use.
In everyday English, the word mainly refers to the object itself, but it can also appear in descriptions of shape. If something is very thin, narrow, or slight, especially a leg or a simple part in a drawing or model, someone may compare it to a matchstick. This is an informal image based on its thin shape.
The word is most common in practical situations involving fire and household use. It can also appear in a more visual or figurative way when a writer wants to suggest something small, plain, or easy to break. Overall, it is a basic word for a simple object that makes fire.
Examples
- 1
Used matches
There were burnt matchsticks in the ashtray.
- 2
Craft project
The children built a tiny house out of matchsticks and glue.
- 3
Food preparation
Cut the carrots into matchsticks before adding them to the salad.
- 4
Furniture
The old chair had thin, matchstick legs.
- Phrasematchstick legs
very thin legs
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- matchsticknoun
Forms
- matchstickspluralnoun