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mat

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The definition of a mat is a flat fabric used as a floor covering.

(noun)

An example of a mat is a soft fabric on the bathroom floor.

Mat is defined as to put protective coverings on the floor or table, or to tangle.

(verb)

An example of mat is to line a gym floor with soft cushiony coverings.

See mat in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

a flat, coarse fabric made of woven or plaited hemp, straw, rope, rushes, etc., often used as a floor covering
a piece of this or of corrugated rubber, cocoa fiber, etc., used variously as a doormat, bathmat, or removable floor covering for a car
1. a flat piece of cloth, woven straw, etc., put under a vase, dish, or the like, or used as an ornament, as on a table
2. a pad, as of rubber or plastic, used to protect the surface of an oven, sink, etc.
a thickly padded floor covering, esp. one used in a gymnasium for tumbling, wrestling, etc.
anything densely interwoven or felted, or growing in a thick tangle: a mat of hair
Naut. a thick web of rope yarn, used to protect rigging from wear

Origin: ME matte < OE meatt < LL matta (> Ger matte) < Phoen word akin to Heb mittāh, a cover

transitive verb matted, matting

to cover with or as with a mat or mats
to interweave, felt, or tangle together into a thick mass

intransitive verb

to be interwoven, felted, or tangled together into a thick mass

adjective

matte

Origin: Fr < OFr mat, defeated, exhausted, prob. < L mattus, drunk < madidus, soaked, drunk < madere, to be drenched, drunk < IE base *mad-, to be wet, drip, juicy, fat > mast, meat

noun

matte
a border, as of cardboard or cloth, put around a picture, either as the frame or, usually, between the picture and the frame

Origin: Fr

transitive verb matted, matting

to produce a dull finish on (metal, glass, etc.)
to apply a mat to (a picture)

noun

Informal a matrix; printing mold

See mat in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A flat piece of coarse fabric or other material used for wiping one's shoes or feet, or in various other forms as a floor covering.
A small flat piece of decorated material placed under a lamp, dish of food, or other object.
Sports A floor pad to protect athletes, as in wrestling or gymnastics.
A densely woven or thickly tangled mass: a mat of hair.
The solid part of a lace design.
A heavy woven net of rope or wire cable placed over a blasting site to keep debris from scattering.

verb mat·ted, mat·ting, mats

verb, transitive

To cover, protect, or decorate with mats or a mat.
To pack or interweave into a thick mass: High winds matted the leaves against the base of the fence.

verb, intransitive

To be packed or interwoven into a thick mass; become entangled.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old English matte

Origin: , from Late Latin matta

Origin: , of Phoenician origin; see nṭy in Semitic roots

noun

A decorative border placed around a picture to serve as a frame or provide contrast between the picture and the frame.
also matte
a. A dull, often rough finish, as of paint, glass, metal, or paper.
b. A special tool for producing such a surface or finish.
Printing See matrix.

transitive verb mat·ted, mat·ting, mats