noun

1. a flat, coarse fabric made of woven or plaited hemp, straw, rope, rushes, etc., often used as a floor covering
2. a piece of this or of corrugated rubber, cocoa fiber, etc., used variously as a doormat, bathmat, or removable floor covering for a car
3. 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.
4. a thickly padded floor covering, esp. one used in a gymnasium for tumbling, wrestling, etc.
5. anything densely interwoven or felted, or growing in a thick tangle a mat of hair
6. Naut. a thick web of rope yarn, used to protect rigging from wear

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

transitive verb matted mat′·ted, matting mat′·ting

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

intransitive verb

adjective

Etymology: 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

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

Etymology: Fr

transitive verb matted mat′·ted, matting mat′·ting

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

noun