Definition

Noun: A small, usually cardboard or thin wooden box designed specifically for holding and storing safety matches.

Usage

The word "matchbox" is used to refer to the container itself. It is a countable noun.

Examples: * She rummaged in the drawer for a matchbox to light the candle. * He collected vintage matchboxes from different restaurants. * The matchbox was empty, so we couldn't start the fire.

Advanced Usage

• "Matchbox-sized" or "matchbox dimensions": Used metaphorically to describe something very small.
  • In the 1970s, computers were room-sized; now we carry matchbox-sized devices in our pockets.

Variants and Related Words

• Matchbook (n): A small folder containing matches, with the striking surface on the outside cover. (A different, though related, type of match container).
• Matchstick (n): The individual wooden or cardboard stick within a matchbox.

Synonyms

• Match container
• Match case (less common, often for sturdier containers)

Related Phrases/Idioms

• "Like a matchbox": Sometimes used informally to describe a building or structure that is small, flimsy, and potentially flammable.
  • The old shed went up like a matchbox in the fire.

Noun

1. a box for holding matches