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mate
1[ meyt ]
/ meɪt /
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Definition of mate
noun
verb (used with object), mat·ed, mat·ing.
verb (used without object), mat·ed, mat·ing.
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Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?
Origin of mate
1First 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, adjectiveWords nearby mate
match point, matchstick, match-up, matchwood, matchy-matchy, mate, matelassé, matelot, matelote, mater, mater dolorosa
Other definitions for mate (2 of 4)
mate2
[ meyt ]
/ meɪt /
noun, verb (used with object), interjection mat·ed, mat·ing,
Origin of mate
2First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English verb maten, matein, matten “to checkmate, defeat,” from Old French mater, ultimately from Persian; see origin at checkmate
Other definitions 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
3First recorded in 1710–20; from American Spanish, from Quechua mati, the calabash gourd in which the herb is steeped
Other definitions for mate (4 of 4)
Mat.E.
abbreviation
Materials Engineer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use mate in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for mate (1 of 3)
mate1
/ (meɪt) /
noun
verb
Derived forms of mate
mateless, adjectiveWord Origin for mate
C14: from Middle Low German; related to Old English gemetta table-guest, from mete meat
British Dictionary definitions for mate (2 of 3)
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for mate
mate
[ māt ]
n.
A spouse.
Either of a pair of animals or birds that associate in order to propagate.
Either of a pair of animals brought together for breeding.
v.
To become joined in marriage.
To be paired for reproducing; breed.
To copulate.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.