friction match
friction match — noun
1. a match whose tip is coated with chemicals that catch fire when rubbed against a
a match whose tip is coated with chemicals that catch fire when rubbed against any rough surface; it lights by friction alone, without needing a special striking strip
Esme lit the stove with a friction match, striking it against the iron grate.
strike a friction match against a surface
A single friction match flared to life against the rough stone wall.
Nia found an old box of friction matches in the cupboard and struck one against the brick fireplace.
Ramón showed his daughter how to strike a friction match without burning her thumb.
Out camping, Pavel lit the stove by striking a friction match against his boot sole.
- strike-anywhere match
the everyday name for a friction match, commonly used in shops and homes
- lucifer match
an early 19th-century name for friction matches, now historical
- safety match
a match that only lights when struck against a specially prepared surface