mat
1. mat \'mat\ n [ME, fr. OE meatte, fr. LL matta, of Sem origin; akin to
Heb mit]sub-dot>tsub-dot>a-h bed 1a1: a piece of coarse woven or plaited
fabric used as a floor covering or support 1a2: a piece of material placed
at a door for cleaning shoes 1b: a decorative piece of material used as a
support for a dish or other sm all item 1c: a large thick pad or cushion
used as a surface for wrestling, tumbling, and gymnastics 2: something
made up of many intertwined or tangled strands
2. mat vb or mat.ted; or mat.ting 1: to provide with a mat or matting 2:
to form into a tangled mass : to become matted
3. mat vt or mat.ted; or mat.ting 1: to make (as a metal, glass, or color)
mat 2: to provide (a picture) with a mat
4. mat or matte \'mat\ aj [F, fr. OF, defeated, fr. L mattus drunk; akin to
L made-re to b]e wet - more at MEAT : lacking or deprived of luster or
gloss : as : having a usu. smooth even surface free from shine or
highlights {@ metals a ~ white face face} usu : having a rough or granular
surface {a matte bacterial colony>
5. mat n [by shortening] 1: a border going around a picture between picture
and frame or serving as the frame 2: a dead or dull finish or a roughened
surface (as in gilding or painting) 3: MATRIX