mat

noun (1)

\ ˈmat

Definition of mat

(Entry 1 of 6)

1a(1) : a piece of coarse, woven, plaited, or felted fabric used especially as a floor covering or a support

(2) : a piece of material placed at a door for wiping soiled shoe soles

b : a decorative piece of material used under a small item (such as a dish) especially for support or protection

c : a large thick pad or cushion used as a surface for wrestling, tumbling, and gymnastics

2 : something made up of densely tangled or adhering filaments or strands especially of organic matter an algal mat a mat of unkempt hair

3 : a large slab usually of reinforced concrete used as the supporting base of a building

mat

verb (1)

matted; matting

Definition of mat (Entry 2 of 6)

transitive verb

1 : to provide with a mat or matting

2a : to form into a tangled mass dirt and filth matted her hair

b : to pack down so as to form a dense mass

intransitive verb

: to become matted

mat

verb (2)

\ ˈmat

matted; matting

Definition of mat (Entry 3 of 6)

transitive verb

1 or less commonly matte or matt : to make (something, such as a metal, glass, or color) matte

2 : to provide (a picture) with a mat

mat

adjective

less common spelling of matte entry 2

: lacking or deprived of luster (see luster entry 2 sense 1) or gloss: such as

a : having a usually smooth even surface free from shine or highlights matte metals a matte finish

b : having a rough or granular (see granular sense 1) surface

mat

noun (2)

Definition of mat (Entry 5 of 6)

: a border going around a picture between picture and frame or serving as the frame

mat

noun (3)

Definition of mat (Entry 6 of 6)

: matrix sense 2a

First Known Use of mat

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb (1)

1549, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1845, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1904, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for mat

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English meatte, from Late Latin matta, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew miṭṭāh bed

Noun (2)

French mat dull color, unpolished surface, from mat, adjective — more at matte

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for mat

mat

noun

\ ˈmat

Kids Definition of mat

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a piece of material used as a floor or seat covering or in front of a door to wipe the shoes on

2 : a decorative piece of material used under dishes or vases

3 : a pad or cushion for gymnastics or wrestling

4 : something made up of many tangled strands a mat of hair

mat

verb

matted; matting

Kids Definition of mat (Entry 2 of 2)

: to form into a tangled mass

mat

adjective

variants: or matt or matte \ ˈmat

Medical Definition of mat

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : lacking or deprived of luster or gloss : having a usually smooth even surface free from shine or highlights

2 : having a coarse rough rugose or granular surface bacteria that form mat colonies on agar

mat

noun

Medical Definition of mat (Entry 2 of 2)

: a mat colony of bacteria

Keep scrolling for more

mat

Definition of mat

less common spelling of matte entry 2

First Known Use of mat

History and Etymology for mat

Kids Definition of mat

Medical Definition of mat

WORD OF THE DAY