one of a pair: I can't find the mate to this glove.
a counterpart.
an associate; fellow worker; comrade; partner (often used in combination): classmate; roommate.
friend; buddy; pal (often used as an informal term of address): Let me give you a hand with that, mate.
Nautical.
first mate.
any of a number of officers of varying degrees of rank subordinate to the master of a merchant ship.
an assistant to a warrant officer or other functionary on a ship.
an aide or helper, as to an artisan; factotum.
a gear, rack, or worm engaging with another gear or worm.
Archaic. an equal in reputation; peer; match.
verb (used with object),mat·ed,mat·ing.
to join as a mate or as mates.
to bring (animals) together for breeding purposes.
to match or marry.
to join, fit, or associate suitably: to mate thought with daring action.
to connect or link: a telephone system mated to a computerized information service.
to treat as comparable.
verb (used without object),mat·ed,mat·ing.
to associate as a mate or as mates.
(of animals) to copulate.
(of animals) to pair for the purpose of breeding.
to marry.
(of a gear, rack, or worm) to engage with another gear or worm; mesh.
Archaic. to consort; keep company.
Origin of mate
1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English mate, maite “friend, companion, shipmate, mate (ship's officer), fellow creature,” from Middle Low German mate, gemate “messmate”, replacing Middle English mette, mete “table companion, messmate, partner,” Old English gemetta “messmate, guest”; see origin at meat
OTHER WORDS FROM mate
mateless,adjective
Words nearby mate
match point, matchstick, match-up, matchwood, matchy-matchy, mate, matelassé, matelot, matelote, mater, mater dolorosa
Definition for mate (2 of 4)
mate2
[ meyt ]
/ meɪt /
Chess.
noun, verb (used with object), interjectionmat·ed,mat·ing,
checkmate (defs. 1, 3, 5).
Origin of mate
2
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb maten, matein, matten “to checkmate, defeat,” from Old French mater, ultimately from Persian; see origin at checkmate
Definition for mate (3 of 4)
mate3
[ mah-tey, mat-ey ]
/ ˈmɑ teɪ, ˈmæt eɪ /
noun
a tealike South American beverage made from the dried leaves of an evergreen tree.
a South American tree, Ilex paraguariensis, that is the source of this beverage.
the dried leaves of this tree.
Also called Paraguay tea, yerba mate .
Origin of mate
3
First recorded in 1710–20; from American Spanish, from Quechua mati, the calabash gourd in which the herb is steeped
The court ruled that presidential contender Howie Hawkins and his running mate, Angela Walker, did not qualify for the ballot because the party did not submit signed filing papers in person, as required by state rules.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court strikes Green Party presidential ticket from ballot, clearing the way for mail ballots to be sent out|Amy Gardner|September 17, 2020|Washington Post
We just want to believe that one day we’ll again have the luxury of being annoyed by the ping of an elevator, that one colleague who aggressively punches the keyboard, and even a cubicle mate’s breakfast chomping.
People who really miss the office are listening to its sounds at home|Tanya Basu|September 10, 2020|MIT Technology Review
The helpers assist in raising their younger siblings until they can find a territory—and mates—of their own.
Blood, death, and eye gouging: welcome to the world of acorn woodpeckers|Kate Baggaley|September 9, 2020|Popular Science
Females, who are more solitary compared to males, chirp to attract mates.
How a 19-year-old lion fathered 35 cubs in 18 months|Tom McNamara|August 27, 2020|Popular Science
Unfit organisms are weeded out not just by environmental pressures, but also by the competition for mates, which is replicated on a microscopic level by the competition among sperm to fertilize an egg.
Sex Is Driven by the Impetus to Change - Issue 88: Love & Sex|Jill Neimark|August 12, 2020|Nautilus
And then I said, ‘Well, chief, when the admiral comes aboard, the first mate has to pipe him in.’
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile|Robert Ward|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Mating with a cousin or brother is safer than risking life and limb to mate with an outsider.
Mongooses, Meerkats, and Ants, Oh My! Why Some Animals Keep Mating All in the Family|Helen Thompson|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Read the profile of a 36-year-old man, and he'll say he's looking for a mate between, oh, 26 and 42.
Heartache by the Numbers and OkCupid’s Founder Has Got Yours|Will Doig|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Benedict Cumberbatch is a mate of mine, and we did a charity show at the Old Vic together,” said Redmayne.
Oscar's Battle of the Brits: Pals Benedict Cumberbatch and Eddie Redmayne Vie for the Gold|Marlow Stern|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But no worries, mate, you will make it all up by selling T-shirts at your gigs.
Five Lessons the Faltering Music Industry Could Learn From TV|Ted Gioia|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A mate was now sent into each, to ascertain what might be discovered to windward.
Sea Stories|Various
His mate broke into a laugh, but made no attempt to rescue him.
Chatterbox, 1905.|Various
I cannot desert my aunt, nor can I quit the Swash alone in company with her mate.
Jack Tier or The Florida Reef|James Fenimore Cooper
The knife was uplifted as the mate felt the grip of the man upon his collar, but the blow was not struck.
Ralph Granger's Fortunes|William Perry Brown
Only from far away came the murmur of the sluggish waters of the Maros, and from its shores the call of a heron to its mate.
A Bride of the Plains|Baroness Emmuska Orczy
British Dictionary definitions for mate (1 of 3)
mate1
/ (meɪt) /
noun
the sexual partner of an animal
a marriage partner
informal, mainlyBritish, Australian and NZa friend, usually of the same sex: often used between males in direct address
(in combination)an associate, colleague, fellow sharer, etca classmate; a flatmate
one of a pair of matching items
nautical
short for first mate
any officer below the master on a commercial ship
a warrant officer's assistant on a ship
(in some trades) an assistanta plumber's mate
archaica suitable associate
mate ratesAustralianslangthe reduced rate charged for work done for a friend
verb
to pair (a male and female animal) or (of animals) to pair for reproduction
to marry or join in marriage
(tr)to join as a pair; match
Derived forms of mate
mateless, adjective
Word Origin for mate
C14: from Middle Low German; related to Old English gemetta table-guest, from metemeat
British Dictionary definitions for mate (2 of 3)
mate2
/ (meɪt) /
noun, verb
chess See checkmate
British Dictionary definitions for mate (3 of 3)
maté
mate
/ (ˈmɑːteɪ, ˈmæteɪ) /
noun
an evergreen tree, Ilex paraguariensis, cultivated in South America for its leaves, which contain caffeine: family Aquifoliaceae
a stimulating milky beverage made from the dried leaves of this tree
Modern Greek name: Paraguay tea, yerba, yerba maté
Word Origin for maté
C18: from American Spanish (originally referring to the vessel in which the drink was brewed), from Quechua máti gourd