[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/matchstick/)

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# matchstick

noun (a matchstick, matchsticks)

«matchstick» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A matchstick is the thin wooden stick of a match, used to light fires. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/matchstick/#m1)
2. Used to describe something very thin: «matchstick arms», «matchstick men». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/matchstick/#m2)

### In the lessons

Used in everyday life, craft (matchstick models), maths puzzles (move one matchstick to fix the sum) and pattern work (matchstick patterns: count sticks in a sequence). Safety: matches are for adults; never play with them.

### Examples

- The model ship was made of matchsticks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/matchstick/#x1)
- Move one matchstick to make the sum correct. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/matchstick/#x2)
- Each square in the pattern needs four matchsticks. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/matchstick/#x3)
- Keep matches away from small children. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/matchstick/#x4)
- He drew a matchstick man. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/matchstick/#x5)
- The burnt matchstick was put in water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/matchstick/#x6)

### Note

Countable. Maths pattern: a row of n squares made with matchsticks needs 3n + 1 sticks (1 square: 4; 2 squares: 7; 3 squares: 10).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «matchstick» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/matchstick/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«matchstick» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/matchstick.html) on Mova free.