matchstick

/ˈmætʃstɪk/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmætʃstɪk/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmach-ˌstik/ (ame, mw)

matchstick — noun

  • matchsticksingular
  • matchsticksplural

1. a thin piece of wood that has a chemical tip for making fire; also used to mean

1.名詞B2
釋義

a thin piece of wood that has a chemical tip for making fire; also used to mean a whole match

例句

Bilal struck a matchstick against the box and lit the birthday candles.

common verb: strike a matchstick

Adina glued tiny matchsticks together to build a model ship for class.

craft use: building models from matchsticks

同義詞
  • match

    everyday word for the same object; matchstick stresses the wooden stick part

  • lucifer

    very old-fashioned British term for a match; rare in modern speech

文法句型

a matchstick

matchsticks for [purpose]

broken matchsticks

用法筆記

Refers to either the bare wooden stick or the whole match (head plus stick); context usually makes it clear. Often used metaphorically to suggest something very thin or fragile.

常見錯誤

❌I lit a matchstick on the stove flame.
✅I lit the candle with a matchstick.
💡a matchstick is what you use to light other things; you usually strike it, you do not light the matchstick itself.