matrix

/ˈmeɪtrɪks/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmeɪtrɪks/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈmā-triks/ (ame, mw)

matrix — noun

  • matrixsingular
  • matricesplural

1. the set of social, political, or cultural conditions that surround and influence

1.名詞B2
釋義

the set of social, political, or cultural conditions that surround and influence the way a person, group, or thing develops over time.

例句

The country's legal matrix made it difficult for small businesses to succeed.

collocation: legal matrix / social matrix / cultural matrix

Élise grew up within a complex cultural matrix shaped by three different traditions.

同義詞
  • context

    more general and less formal; can refer to any surrounding circumstances, not necessarily developmental

  • framework

    emphasises structure and organisation more than the surrounding conditions themselves

  • environment

    broader in meaning; can include physical surroundings as well as abstract conditions

  • setting

    more concrete; often refers to a specific place or time rather than abstract conditions

文法句型

matrix of [something]

用法筆記

Subject of the sentence is typically an abstract entity such as culture, politics, society, or law. This sense is most common in academic or formal writing.

常見錯誤

❌The social matrix of the community was very strong.
✅The social environment of the community was very strong.
💡Use 'social environment' instead of 'social matrix' when you mean a supportive community rather than a set of conditions for growth.

2. a rectangular grouping of numbers or symbols laid out in a grid pattern, used in

2.名詞B1
釋義

a rectangular grouping of numbers or symbols laid out in a grid pattern, used in mathematics for calculations that involve several values at once.

例句

The data scientist arranged the survey results into a matrix to look for patterns.

In class, Andrés learned how to multiply two matrices together using a formula.

plural: matrices (standard); not matrixes

同義詞
  • array

    often used in computing and programming to mean a similar rectangular structure, though arrays can have more than two dimensions

  • grid

    less formal; refers to any criss-cross arrangement and does not carry the same mathematical operations

文法句型

[number] × [number] matrix

matrix of [numbers / symbols]

用法筆記

The most common plural form is 'matrices' (pronounced /ˈmeɪtrɪsiːz/), following the Latin plural. 'Matrixes' is accepted but much less common. This sense appears frequently in secondary-school and university-level mathematics.

常見錯誤

❌I drew a matrix with a graph.
✅I drew a matrix with rows and columns.
💡A matrix is an array of values, not a graph or chart.

3. a natural or manufactured material that surrounds, holds, or contains other item

3.名詞B2
釋義

a natural or manufactured material that surrounds, holds, or contains other items, such as minerals, fossils, crystals, or biological cells.

例句

The fossil was buried inside a matrix of fine-grained limestone for millions of years.

collocation: rock matrix / limestone matrix

In connective tissue, cells are spread through a matrix of collagen fibres.

domain: biology — extracellular matrix

同義詞
  • substrate

    more specific to biology and geology; implies a surface or layer that lies underneath

  • medium

    can mean the same but is broader; used in art, biology, and communications

  • groundmass

    a specialised geology term for the fine-grained part of a rock containing larger crystals

文法句型

matrix of [substance]

用法筆記

In biology, 'extracellular matrix' is a fixed term referring to the web of proteins and other molecules outside animal cells. In geology, 'matrix' refers to the fine-grained rock material that surrounds larger crystals, fossils, or gemstones.