matte

¹

or mat, matt

[ mat ]

adjective

1. having a dull or lusterless surface:

   matte paint; a matte complexion; a photograph with a matte finish.

noun

1. a dull or dead surface, often slightly roughened, as on metals, paint, paper, or glass.
2. a tool for producing such a surface.
3. Metallurgy. an unfinished metallic product of the smelting of certain sulfide ores, especially those of copper.
4. Movies. matte shot.

verb (used with object)

, mat·ted, mat·ting.

1. to finish with a matte surface.

matte

²

[ mat ]

noun

, Mining.

1. a mass of timber caved beneath overburden so as to cushion the fall of the overburden and separate it from mineral to be extracted beneath.

matte

¹

/ mæt /

noun

1. an impure fused material consisting of metal sulphides produced during the smelting of a sulphide ore

matte

²

/ mæt /

noun

1. films television a mask used to blank out part of an image so that another image can be superimposed

Word History and Origins

Origin of matte¹

First recorded in 1640–50; from French mat (masculine), matte (feminine), Old French, from Late Latin mattus “moist, soft, weak,” perhaps from unattested maditus, derivative of Latin madēre “to be wet”

Origin of matte²

< German; akin to mat ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of matte¹

C19: from French

Example Sentences

Its thin, ridged, matte case prevents slips and drops while allowing for wireless charging.

From Popular-Science

Pour the cooled fruit filling into the unbaked, assembled pie crust and bake for about 35 minutes, or until the filling appears a bit matte on the surface.

From Washington Post

Bake for about 35 minutes, or until the filling appears a bit matte on the surface.

From Washington Post

As mentioned, the earcup face is now smooth and matte, which looks great, and there’s a silicone edge on each, which helps keep the right earcup in place when placed on a wireless charger.

From TechCrunch

It was the only shirt that I wore regularly with jeans, thanks to its matte exterior and slim fit.

From Outside Online

The shell is a combination of matte and shiny plastics, but it still feels like a solid piece of hardware.

From The Daily Beast

The real Chloë is notorious for wearing beige and houndstooth and orange, matte lipstick, and sarcastic chunk wedges.

From The Daily Beast

Then, the merkin is applied with an adhesive; Ledermann uses a matte substance by Telesis.

From The Daily Beast

The surface—a smooth semi-matte—brings out detail fully, and the paper is supplied in both single and double weights.

From Project Gutenberg

If, however, an ore gives a layer of matte or speise, it is best to repeat the assay by the method of calcining before fusion.

From Project Gutenberg

Mme. Matte went out with a little bag in her hand containing her savings, about two thousand francs.

From Project Gutenberg

The product, called crude matte, contains about 50% copper together with sulphur and iron.

From Project Gutenberg

All good things go in threes, so Matte and his wife fished for salmon in spring, for herring in summer, and for cod in winter.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• cloudy
• cold
• dark
• dim
• dismal
• flat
• hazy
• lifeless
• muddy
• muted
• obscure
• soft
• somber
• subdued