mate Hear it!

mate¹ Definition

mate (māt)

noun

    1. a companion, comrade, or fellow worker: often used in compounds [classmate]
    2. Brit., Informal a chum; buddy; pal: often used as a familiar form of address
  2. one of a pair, esp. of a matched pair
    1. a husband or wife; spouse
    2. the male or female of animals paired for propagation
  4. Archaic an equal; fit associate
  5. Naut.: in the U.S. Navy, mate is used in the designators of certain petty officers and ratings, as machinist's mate, boatswain's mate
    1. an officer of a merchant ship, ranking below the captain; specif., first mate
    2. an assistant

Etymology: ME < MDu, a companion < gemate < Gmc *gamatan < *ga-, together (for IE base see com-) + *mad-, food, meat: hence, orig., one who share meals: cf. companion

transitive verb mat′ed, mat′·ing

  1. to join as a pair; couple
  2. to couple in marriage or sexual union
  3. to provide with a mate

intransitive verb

to become mated

mate² Definition

mate (māt)

noun, , transitive verb mat′ed, mat′·ing

checkmate

Etymology: ME mat < OFr: see checkmate

mate Synonyms

mate

n.

  1. One of a pair

    complement, analog, counterpart; see match 2.

  2. A companion

    partner, comrade, schoolfellow, stable companion, helpmate, playmate, classmate, buddy*, pal*, chum*, roomie*; see also friend 1.

  3. A marriage partner

    spouse, bride, groom, bedmate, the old man*, the old lady*; see also husband, wife.

  4. A naval officer

    warrant officer, skipper, petty officer, next in command to a captain, first mate, second mate, third mate, boatswain's mate; see also officer 3.

mate Usage Examples

Object

  • queen: A newly mated queen may stay in the nest where she was raised or establish a new colony nearby with some loyal workers.
  • v: L v mated becquerel therefore was because becquerel apparently then diminish.

Converse of object

  • attract: Dancing Birds Many birds dance to attract a mate, especially in springtime.
  • worry: Cheeky g 02-11-2005, 17:33 Hey Martin no worries mate.
  • run: If it was the engine I'd say Hayleys bike was running a little hot mate.

Adjective modifier

  • sorry: Sorry mate, how much is you r personal equipment insured for outside of your own property?
  • bestest: Up steps Scouse Wayne's bestest mate Scouse Gerrie.
  • yer: Please consider becoming part of it - go on, be yer best mate.
  • stable: The new 206 Gti 180 is a modern cracker that won't easily be mistaken for one of its lesser stable mates.
  • flat: In the final revision week your flat mate has taken to playing thrash metal music really loudly late at night.
  • old: Farewell old mates, a loving, last farewell, alas!

Noun used with modifier

  • soul: My darling you were my soul mate, my spirit, my ray of sunshine.
  • team: Not to be outdone by his Irish team mate Eugene Hughes made his entrance into the seniors event with a break of 102.
  • cheer: Only disappointment was missing Marmaduke the Bierkeller Monkey who was a great help with info and directions, cheers mate.
  • ya: Aaah thats a bit better borris, with ya mates in the pub Been spending a little freely have we?
  • yerba: The solution in a liquid extract is to combine the only really good herbs for this effect, yerba mate ' and ginseng species.
  • bezzie: You his bezzie mate or something, you coat-tail rider?

Possessives

  • ol: It's yer ol ' mate Wayne ' ere!

Preposition: of

  • mine: A former teacher recently asked about me to a mate of mine she met.

Preposition: with

  • queen: The males do not work, and their sole purpose is to mate with the queen.
mate Quotes

   Love refines The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat In reason, and is judicious, is the scale By which to heav'nly love thou may'st ascend, Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause Among the beasts no mate for thee was found.

—Milton,John

Of Consciousness, her awful Mate The soul cannot be ridö As easy the secreting her Behind the Eyes of God.

—Dickinson, Emily Elizabeth

As I was walking all alane, I heard twa corbies making a mane; The tane unto the tother say, 'Where sall we gang and dine to-day?' 'In behint yon auld fail dye, I wot there lies a new-slain knight; And naebody kens that he lies there, But his hawk, his hound, and his lady fair. 'His hound is to the hunting gane, His hawk to fetch the wild-fowl hame, His lady's ta'en another mate, So we may mak our dinner sweet.'

—Ballads

Such was that happy garden-state, While man there walked without a mate.

—Marvell, Andrew

The recruiting field for the militant suffragists is the million of our excess female populationöthat million whichhad better long ago have gone out tomate with its complement of men beyond the sea.

—Wright, SirAlmroth Edward

Here lies, bowl'd out by Death's unerring ball, A cricketer renowned, by name John Small; But though his name was small, yet great was his fame, For nobly did he play the'noble game'. His life was like his inningsölong and good; Full ninety summers had Death withstood, At length the ninetieth winter cameöwhen (Fate Not leaving him one solitary mate) This last of Hambledonians, old John Small, Gave up his bat and ballöhis leather, wax and all.

—Egan, Pierce

I'm old fashioned. I don't believe in extra-marital relationships. I think people should mate for life, like pigeons or Catholics.

—Allen,Woody pseudonym of  Allen Stewart Konigsberg

I had written him a letter which I had, for want of better Knowledge, sent to where I met him, down the Lachlan, years ago. He was shearing when I knew him, so I sent the letter to him, Just 'on spec', addressed as follows: 'Clancy, of the Overflow'. And an answer came directed in a writing unexpected, (And I think the same was written with a thumbnail dipped in tar) 'Twas his shearing mate who wrote it, and verbatim I will quote it: 'Clancy's gone to Queensland droving, and we don't know where he are.'

—Paterson, Banjo (Andrew Barton)