VOOZH about

URL: https://www.wordreference.com/definition/mat.

⇱ mat. - WordReference.com Dictionary of English


Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
mat. abbreviation for
  1. matinée
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
mat1 /mæt/USA pronunciation   n., v., mat•ted, mat•ting. 
n. [countable]
  1. a piece of fabric used on a floor as a covering:a floor mat.
  2. a piece of material set under an object, as a dish:a place mat.
  3. Sporta thick pad placed on a floor to protect wrestlers and gymnasts.
  4. Botanya thick tangled mass, as of weeds or hair.

v. 
  1. to form into a tangled mass: [no object]Her hair matted from the sweat.[~ + object]The rain matted his hair.
  2. Idioms go to the mat, [~ (+ for + object)] to support or defend a person or cause with determination:promised he'd go to the mat for her when she came up for review.

mat2 /mæt/USA pronunciation   n., v., mat•ted, mat•ting. 
n. [countable]
  1. Fine Artmaterial serving as a frame or border for a picture.

v. [~ + object]
  1. Photography, Fine Artto provide (a picture) with a mat.

mat3 /mæt/USA pronunciation   adj., n., v., mat•ted, mat•ting. 
  1. matte.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
mat1  (mat),USA pronunciation n., v., mat•ted, mat•ting. 
n. 
  1. 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.
  2. a smaller piece of material, often ornamental, set under a dish of food, a lamp, vase, etc.
  3. Sport
    • 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.
  4. Botanya thickly growing or thick and tangled mass, as of hair or weeds.
  5. a sack made of matting, as for coffee or sugar.
  6. Buildinga slablike footing of concrete, esp. one for an entire building.
  7. Buildinga heavy mesh reinforcement for a concrete slab.
  8. Idiomsgo 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.

v.t. 
  1. to cover with or as if with mats or matting.
  2. to form into a mat, as by interweaving.

v.i. 
  1. Botanyto become entangled;
    form tangled masses.
  • Semitic; compare Hebrew mittāh bed
  • Late Latin matta mat of rushes
  • Middle English, Old English matte bef. 900
mat′less, adj. 

mat2  (mat),USA pronunciation n., v., mat•ted, mat•ting. 
n. 
  1. Photography, Fine Arta 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.

v.t. 
  1. Photography, Fine Artto provide (a picture) with a mat.
  • apparently mat1, influenced by matte1 1835–40

mat3  (mat),USA pronunciation adj., n., v., mat•ted, mat•ting. 
  1. Cinemamatte1.

mat4  (mat),USA pronunciation n. [Print.]
  1. Printingthe intaglio, usually of papiermâché, impressed from type or a cut, from which a stereotype plate is cast.
  2. Printingmatrix (def. 8).
  • shortened form of matrix 1920–25

mat., 
    1. matins.
    2. maturity.

M.A.T., 
  1. EducationMaster of Arts in Teaching.

'mat.' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

🗣️Forum discussions with the word(s) "mat." in the title:

[mug/glass] pad/mat or coaster?
a mat for two slim people
A sleeping bag will be more useful than just a mat
bathroom mat/rug [bath mat / rug ]
Beer mat or coaster?
booster cushions, mat
but acquires its own mat (Alan Bennett)
Cat ran off the mat
cushion, mat or pad
cutting/chopping mat
door mart [mat / doormat]
Eat-o-mat
educational mat?
exercise mat or rug
floor mat
get me on the mat
He tilted his chair towards the <pot> on the mat
He was about as thriving as travelling basket and mat makers
heavy mat of Mediterranean hair
laundry mat
Lay out yoga mat
lest Sheldon’s chest hairs mat
mat
mat leave
mat log (lumber/construction)
mat pour
Mat, rug, carpet: what's the difference?
matted with sweat [mat]
Me and Mat was down there fishing.
On the mat
more...

Look up "mat." at Merriam-Webster
Look up "mat." at dictionary.com
  • Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks.

In other languages: Spanish | French | Italian | Portuguese | Romanian | German | Dutch | Swedish | Russian | Polish | Czech | Greek | Turkish | Chinese | Japanese | Korean | Arabic

Advertisements
Advertisements
Report an inappropriate ad.
WordReference.com
WORD OF THE DAY
GET THE DAILY EMAIL!
Become a WordReference Supporter to view the site ad-free.
Firefox users: use search shortcuts for the fastest search of WordReference.
Copyright © 2026 WordReference.com
Please report any problems.