a piece of fabric made of plaited or woven rushes, straw, hemp, or similar fiber, or of some other pliant material, as rubber, used as a protective covering on a floor or other surface, to wipe the shoes on, etc.
a smaller piece of material, often ornamental, set under a dish of food, a lamp, vase, etc.
Sports.
the padded canvas covering the entire floor of a wrestling ring, for protecting the contestants from injury when thrown.
a thick pad placed on the floor for the protection of tumblers and others engaged in gymnastic sports.
a thickly growing or thick and tangled mass, as of hair or weeds.
a sack made of matting, as for coffee or sugar.
a slablike footing of concrete, especially one for an entire building.
a heavy mesh reinforcement for a concrete slab.
verb (used with object),mat·ted,mat·ting.
to cover with or as if with mats or matting.
to form into a mat, as by interweaving.
verb (used without object),mat·ted,mat·ting.
to become entangled; form tangled masses.
Idioms for mat
go to the mat, to contend or struggle in a determined or unyielding way: The president is going to the mat with Congress over the proposed budget cuts.
Origin of mat
1
before 900; Middle English, Old English matte<Late Latin matta mat of rushes <Semitic; compare Hebrew mittāh bed
a piece of cardboard or other material placed over or under a drawing, painting, photograph, etc., to serve as a frame or provide a border between the picture and the frame.
verb (used with object),mat·ted,mat·ting.
to provide (a picture) with a mat.
Origin of mat
2
1835–40; apparently mat1, influenced by matte1
Definition for mat (3 of 6)
mat3
[ mat ]
/ mæt /
adjective, noun, verb,mat·ted,mat·ting.
matte1.
Definition for mat (4 of 6)
mat4
[ mat ]
/ mæt /
nounPrinting.
the intaglio, usually of papiermâché, impressed from type or a cut, from which a stereotype plate is cast.
matrix (def. 8).
Origin of mat
4
First recorded in 1920–25; shortened form of matrix