Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Matter \Mat"ter\, n. [OE. matere, F. mati[`e]re, fr. L. materia;
   perh. akin to L. mater mother. Cf. {Mother}, {Madeira},
   {Material}.]
   1. 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.           --B. Jonson.

   2. 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.

   Note: Matter is usually divided by philosophical writers into
         three kinds or classes: solid, liquid, and a["e]riform.
         Solid substances are those whose parts firmly cohere
         and resist impression, as wood or stone. Liquids have
         free motion among their parts, and easily yield to
         impression, as water and wine. A["e]riform substances
         are elastic fluids, called vapors and gases, as air and
         oxygen gas.

   3. 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. ``If the
      matter should be tried by duel.'' --Bacon.

            Son of God, Savior of men ! Thy name Shall be the
            copious matter of my song.            --Milton.

            Every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but
            every small matter they shall judge.  --Ex. xviii.
                                                  22.

   4. 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.            --Bacon.

            Some young female seems to have carried matters so
            far, that she is ripe for asking advice.
                                                  --Spectator.

   5. 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.        --Dryden.

   6. 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.
                                                  --Milton.

Matter \Mat"ter\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Mattered}; p. pr. & vb.
   n. {Mattering}.]
   1. To be of importance; to import; to signify.

            It matters not how they were called.  --Locke.

   2. To form pus or matter, as an abscess; to maturate. [R.]
      ``Each slight sore mattereth.'' --Sir P. Sidney.

Matter \Mat"ter\, v. t.
   To regard as important; to take account of; to care for.
   [Obs.]

         He did not matter cold nor hunger.       --H. Brooke.

Source : WordNet®

matter
     n 1: that which has mass and occupies space; "an atom is the
          smallest indivisible unit of matter" [syn: {substance}]
     2: a vaguely specified concern; "several matters to attend to";
        "it is none of your affair"; "things are going well" [syn:
         {affair}, {thing}]
     3: 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" [syn: {topic}, {subject}, {issue}]
     4: a problem; "is anything the matter?"
     5: (used with negation) having consequence; "they were friends
        and it was no matter who won the games"
     6: written works (especially in books or magazines); "he always
        took some reading matter with him on the plane"

matter
     v : have weight; have import, carry weight; "It does not matter
         much" [syn: {count}, {weigh}]