mat

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈmat 

1

a(1)

: a piece of coarse, woven, plaited, or felted fabric used especially as a floor covering or a support

(2)

: a piece of material placed at a door for wiping soiled shoe soles

b

: a decorative piece of material used under a small item (such as a dish) especially for support or protection

c

: a large thick pad or cushion used as a surface for wrestling, tumbling, and gymnastics

2

: something made up of densely tangled or adhering filaments or strands especially of organic matter

an algal mat

a mat of unkempt hair

3

: a large slab usually of reinforced concrete used as the supporting base of a building

mat

2 of 6

verb (1)

matted; matting

transitive verb

1

: to provide with a mat or matting

2

a

: to form into a tangled mass

dirt and filth matted her hair

b

: to pack down so as to form a dense mass

intransitive verb

: to become matted

mat

3 of 6

verb (2)

ˈmat 

matted; matting

transitive verb

1

or less commonly matte or matt : to make (something, such as a metal, glass, or color) matte

2

: to provide (a picture) with a mat

mat

4 of 6

adjective

less common spelling of matte entry 2

: lacking or deprived of luster (see luster entry 1 sense 1) or gloss: such as

a

: having a usually smooth even surface free from shine or highlights

matte metals

a matte finish

b

: having a rough or granular (see granular sense 1) surface

mat

5 of 6

noun (2)

: a border going around a picture between picture and frame or serving as the frame

mat

6 of 6

noun (3)

: matrix sense 2a

Examples of mat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This supportive pair is designed with footbeds made from yoga mats for truly unparalleled comfort, while the adjustable straps allow for the perfect fit every time. —Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 11 May 2024

Pack your yoga mats in the car and do a yoga session on the beach. —Lauryn Jiles, Miami Herald, 9 May 2024

This acupressure mat and pillow have gentle stimulators that activate points across the body to unlock tension. —Nora Colomer, Fox News, 9 May 2024

Unlike a facial device or massage gun, the pulsations are barely noticeable, and when paired with the lapping waves of the Pacific Ocean down below, the mat was a perfect way to unwind under the Malibu sun. —Tim Chan, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 May 2024

And after all that, Amazon must persuade users to sign up to have an 80-pound, six-rotor drone flying into their yard to drop a box from several feet up onto the giant QR code mat that the craft uses to identify a customer’s drop-off point. —Paresh Dave, WIRED, 7 May 2024

But the Krans aesthetic is unique for its rebellion against the typical perky, pastel look often used on yoga mats and reusable water bottles — even though her work can be spotted on the shelves and shrines of influencers across the wellness industry. —Simone Wilson, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2024

Sweat dribbles off my nose and onto the mat, little raindrops of exertion. —Abby Ellin, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 May 2024

At the gymnastics world championships in Antwerp, Belgium, in October, Fred Richard found himself in an unfamiliar position—face down on the mat. —Alice Park / Ann Arbor, TIME, 1 May 2024

Verb

Dogs with matting experience pain when touched, but crave the affection of being petted. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024

Blood is matted into the white paintwork and dark upholstery. —Matthew Mulligan, NBC News, 7 July 2023

How to prevent fur matting Brush your dog's hair down to the skin often. —Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024

Rabbit adopters must perform perpetual grooming to keep the rabbit’s fur from matting and must keep a close eye on the bunnies’ diet and poops. —Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024

The matting situation was so bad that staff at HSTB had to sedate him in order to shave him. —Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024

But if that's the case, Chen Moonves better start working on her eyebrow arch and mat chat skills. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 9 Aug. 2023

To avoid tangling and matting, Koudou recommends spraying the ends with water and brushing the hair out lightly. —Annie Blay, Allure, 19 Jan. 2024

This is particularly important for breeds with long or dense fur prone to matting. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English meatte, from Late Latin matta, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew miṭṭāh bed

Noun (2)

French mat dull color, unpolished surface, from mat, adjective — more at matte

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb (1)

1549, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1845, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1904, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mat

• bath mat
• beer mat
• go to the mat
• mouse mat
• place mat
• prayer mat
• put/roll/throw out the welcome mat
• table mat
• welcome mat

Kids Definition

mat

1 of 5 noun

ˈmat 

1

a

: a piece of coarse fabric of rush, straw, or wool

b

: a piece of material in front of a door to wipe dirty shoe soles on

c

: a decorative piece of material used under a dish or vase

d

: a pad or cushion for gymnastics or wrestling

2

: something made up of many tangled strands

a thick mat of vegetation

mat

2 of 5 verb

matted; matting

1

: to provide with a mat or matting

2

: to become or cause to become a tangled mass

mat

3 of 5 verb

ˈmat 

matted; matting

1

also matte or matt : to give a dull effect to

2

: to border (a picture) with a mat

mat

4 of 5

variant of matte entry 2

mat

5 of 5 noun

1

: a border of stiff paper (as cardboard) going around a picture between picture and frame or serving as the frame

2

: a dull finish

Etymology

Noun

Old English meatte "mat," from Latin matta (same meaning); of Semitic origin

Medical Definition

mat

1 of 2 adjective

variants or matt or matte

ˈmat 

1

: lacking or deprived of luster or gloss : having a usually smooth even surface free from shine or highlights

2

: having a coarse rough rugose or granular surface

bacteria that form mat colonies on agar

mat

2 of 2 noun

: a mat colony of bacteria