[RightWhale]

Let's get to the heart of the matter. Which of these uses will serve as the definition? Matter is material, stuff you buy at the lumberyard and have delivered by truck. When you pick it up it resists your fingers. But don't look too closely, because that piece of lumber is made of nothing. It is empty space. Bent, twisted space. What is it that is bent, twisted, warped of that space? That is matter.

Wiki-pedia schmiki-pedia

[Alamo-Girl]

Thank you for your reply!

Let's get to the heart of the matter.

LOLOL! That is another meaning of the word "matter" - used frequently by lawyers.

But, alas, you were challenging us for a definition of "matter" with regard to physics. And that is what I offered as a response in post 2039.

What is it that is bent, twisted, warped of that space? That is matter.

At bottom, matter is one form of energy. Light has energy and momentum but it doesn't have a rest mass. When we broach the energy-momentum tensor we start entering confusion on the subject.

Therefore, I prefer my "geometric" description that matter has "space/time coordinates and thus consists of fields (which are defined as existing in all points of space/time) and geometry". That hedges the question about Higgs, dark matter and dark energy - but, I believe, captures the idea you have been asserting. If I had been making your assertions, I would have used the term "corporeal" rather than "matter".

At any rate, perhaps Physicist can help by providing for us (and thus authenticating) a definition for the term "matter" - after which we can adjust our prior arguments to be accurate.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Were it not for the Pauli Exclusion Principle, you could stick the empty space of your hand into the empty space of your lumber. This principle holds up neutron stars and keeps us from sinking into the center of the Earth.