Match is a slender piece of cardboard or wood with a tip made of a chemical mixture that burns easily. Matches are used to produce fire. When the tip is rubbed against a rough or specially prepared surface, the chemicals burst into flame and ignite the match.
India is the world's leading producer of matches. Brazil, South Africa, and the United States also have large match industries. Matches, which were invented in the early 1800's, provided the first cheap, convenient method of producing fire.
