A match is a tool for starting a fire under controlled conditions. A typical modern match is made of a small wooden stick or stiff paper. One end is coated with a material that can be ignited by frictional heat generated by striking the match against a suitable surface. Matches are usually sold in quantity; wooden ones are packaged in boxes, and paper matches are clustered in rows stapled into matchbooks. They are commonly sold by tobacconists and many other kinds of shops. The coated end of a match, known as the match "head," contains either phosphorus or phosphorus sesquisulfide as the active ingredient and gelatin as a binder. There are two main types of matches: safety matches, which can be struck only against a specially prepared surface, and strike-anywhere matches, for which any suitably frictional surface can be used. Some match-like compositions, known as electric matches, are ignited electrically and do not make use of heat from friction.

Mothers Apart from Their Children (MATCH) has existed since 1979 as a non-judgemental support group, run by volunteers who are, or have been, mothers separated from their children after divorce, family breakdown, care orders, adoption or abduction. Separation can last several months, years or decades. Sometimes forever. In September 2006 MATCH was granted charitable status.

Match (v. altengl. maccun, machen: svw. Wettkampf; auch Streichholz) steht für

• Das Match, österreichische Fernsehshow
• Der Match, Schweizer Fernseh-Doku-Soap
• Miss Match, US-Fernsehserie
• Paris Match, französische Illustrierte
• Perfect Match, Gemälde von Allen Jones
• Swedish Match, schwedisches Unternehmen

Siehe auch

• Match Cut
• Match Point

Ein Streichholz oder Zündholz ist ein Holzstäbchen zum Entfachen eines Feuers. Durch Reiben an einer Reibefläche entzündet sich der an einem Ende angebrachte Zündkopf und bringt damit das Holzstäbchen zum Brennen.