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as a matter of fact

words that you use when you say something true, important, or interesting

I like Dave a lot. As a matter of fact, he's my best friend. no matter how, what, when, who, etc.

words that you use to say that something is always true No matter how (= however ) hard I try, I can't open the door .

I'll help you, no matter what (= whatever ) happens.

mat .ter 2 Ф / maetor/ verb ( mat . ters , mat . ter ing , mat . tered )

to be important

It doesn't matter if you're late — we'll wait for you.

mat • tress / ' m®trss / noun [ count ]

( plural mat . tress . es )

the thick, soft part of a bed

ma • tureAWL / ms ' t/ur ; ms ' tur / adjective

behaving in a sensible way like an adult

fully grown or fully developed —ANTONYM immature ►ma • ture verb

( ma . tures , ma tur ing , ma tured )

He has matured a lot since he went to college.

mauve / mouv / adjective, noun [ noncount ]

pale purple

max • i • mum AWL / ' mrekssmsm / noun

[ singular ]

the biggest possible size, amount, or number This plane can carry a maximum of 150 people. ► max • i • mum adjective

We drove at a maximum speed of 60 miles per hour. —ANTONYM minimum

May О / mei / noun [ count, noncount ]

the fifth month of the year

may © / mei / modal verb

1 a word that shows what will perhaps happen or what is possible

may go to Colorado next month. He may not be here.

( formal ) to be allowed to do something May I open the window?

You may go now. Grammar

Can , could , may , might , should , must , will , shall , would , and ought to are modal verbs.

Modal verbs do not have an "s" in the "he/she" form: She can drive. (NOT She cans drive.) After modal verbs (except ought to ), you use the infinitive without "to": I must go now. (NOT I must to go.)

You make questions and negative sentences without "do" or "did": Will you come with me? (NOT Do you will come?); They might not know. (NOT They don't might know.)

may . be О / 'meibi/ adverb

a word that shows that something may happen or may be true

"Are you going out tonight?" "Maybe."

Maybe you should call him. —SYNONYM perhaps

Style

You can use maybe when you want to sound polite: Maybe you could help me with the cooking (= Please help me with the cooking ) .

may • on • naise / meia ' neiz ; ' meianeiz / noun [ noncount ]

a cold, thick sauce made with eggs and oil

may • or / ' meiar / noun [ count ]

( politics ) the leader of a group of people who control a city or town (called a council )

maze / meiz / noun [ count ]

a system of paths that is confusing, so that it is difficult to find your way out

me Ф / mi / pronoun ( plural us / as / )

the person who is speaking He called me yesterday. Give it to me. Hello, it's me.

mead • oW / ' medou / noun [ count ]

a field of grass

meal Ф / mil / noun [ count ]

food that you eat at a certain time of the day What's your favorite meal of the day? We had a nice meal in that restaurant. Culture

Breakfast , lunch , and dinner are the usual meals of the day.

We do not usually use "a" with the names of meals: Let's have lunch together tomorrow.

meal • time / miltaim / noun [ count ]

the time at which a meal is usually eaten Our mealtimes are later on weekends.

mean 1Ф / min / verb

( means , mean . ing , meant / ment / has meant )

to have as a meaning What does "medicine" mean ?

The red light means that you have to stop here.

to plan or want to say something