mating

noun

1. 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
3. 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

Origin: 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 mated, mating

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

intransitive verb