php - How do I make a regex not 'swallow' a character? -

I have a text file like

  {word} definition {second word} second Definition {word} They are not on different lines  

I was using regex

  $ regex = '/ \ {(az) + ) \} (+) \ {/ I '?.?  

However, it causes problems in swallow the last brace, and then in the next word it will not match the next match.

To perform, I have done this for debugging purposes

  echo preg_replace ($ regex, '& lt; b style = "background color: red;" & Gt; $ 1 & lt; / b & gt; & lt; b style = "background-color: yellow;" & gt; $ 2 & lt; / b & gt; '$ $ content;);  

Here is an example of my output (In the next word the opening brace has no notice, so it does not match in regex)

  & Lt ; B style = "background-color: red;" & Gt; Broom & lt; / B & gt; & Lt; B style = "background color: yellow;" & Gt;  

How can I modify my regex to do this work

Multi-Stimed Woody Plant & Lt; / B & gt; Thank you

edit

Many thanks for your reply I have changed my regex so much

  $ Regex = '/ \ {([az \ - \s] +?) \} ([^ \ {] +) / I';  

I will also look into letterhead articles.

For this specific case, you can:

  $ Regex = '/ \ {([az] +?)}} ([^ \ {] +) / I';  

[^ \ {] means "matches any character that is not a left brace". The advantage of this also is that {] is not required at the end of your input.

More generally, you can be seen in others as mentioned.