Meaning & use
state of matter
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Meanings
nouncountabletechnicalphysicschemistry
One of the physical forms that matter can take, such as solid, liquid, gas, or plasma.
Grammar: Countable: you can talk about one state of matter or several states of matter.
Patterns
- a state of matter
- the states of matter
- change state of matter
Ice, water, and steam are the same substance in three different states of matter.
In this lesson we will look at how a state of matter changes when heat is added.
Plasma is often called the fourth state of matter.
nouncountablefigurative
A condition or situation that something or someone is in at a particular time.
Grammar: This is a looser, figurative use; it is countable and usually has 'of' after it.
Patterns
- a state of matter
- in a state of matter
After the storm, the whole town was in a strange state of matter, half ruined and half untouched.
The report describes the economy as being in a fragile state of matter.
Word forms
| plural | states of matter |
|---|
Common combinations
- change of state of matter
- Melting and boiling are examples of a change of state of matter.
- the three states of matter
- Most school courses begin with the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas.
- the fourth state of matter
- Plasma is sometimes called the fourth state of matter.
- identify the state of matter
- Students were asked to identify the state of matter of each sample.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
Commonly confused: state of matter or state of the art?
state of matter vs state of the art
State of the art means the most modern and advanced level of something, and it has nothing to do with solids, liquids, or gases.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'state of matter' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Water really does exist as solid, liquid, and gas, so 'three different states of matter' fits. Option 2 uses 'state of matter' where 'state' alone (meaning an emotional condition) is needed. Option 3 confuses it with 'the state of things'. Option 4 is nonsense because a state of matter is not a physical object you can buy.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “state of matter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.