something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates, takes form, or develops: The Greco-Roman world was the matrix for Western civilization.
Anatomy. a formative part, as the corium beneath a nail.
Digital Technologya grid formed by perpendicular intersections that define potential space that may be filled, as by pixels on a screen, ink in dot-matrix printing, or material in 3D printing.
(in a press or stamping machine) a multiple die or perforated block on which the material to be formed is placed.
Mathematics. a rectangular array of numbers, algebraic symbols, or mathematical functions, especially when such arrays are added and multiplied according to certain rules.
Linguistics. a rectangular display of features characterizing a set of linguistic items, especially phonemes, usually presented as a set of columns of plus or minus signs specifying the presence or absence of each feature for each item.
Also called master. a mold made by electroforming from a disk recording, from which other disks may be pressed.
Archaic. the womb.
Origin of matrix
1325–75;Middle Englishmatris, matrix < Latinmātrix female animal kept for breeding (Late Latin: register, orig. of such beasts), parent stem (of plants), derivative of māter mother
a substance, situation, or environment in which something has its origin, takes form, or is enclosed
anatomythe thick tissue at the base of a nail from which a fingernail or toenail develops
the intercellular substance of bone, cartilage, connective tissue, etc
the rock material in which fossils, pebbles, etc, are embedded
the material in which a mineral is embedded; gangue
printing
a metal mould for casting type
a papier-mâché or plastic mould impressed from the forme and used for stereotypingSometimes shortened to: mat
(formerly) a mould used in the production of gramophone records. It is obtained by electrodeposition onto the master
a bed of perforated material placed beneath a workpiece in a press or stamping machine against which the punch operates
metallurgy
the shaped cathode used in electroforming
the metal constituting the major part of an alloy
the soft metal in a plain bearing in which the hard particles of surface metal are embedded
the main component of a composite material, such as the plastic in a fibre-reinforced plastic
mathsa rectangular array of elements set out in rows and columns, used to facilitate the solution of problems, such as the transformation of coordinates. Usually indicated by parentheses: (adbecf)Compare determinant (def. 3)
linguisticsthe main clause of a complex sentence
computinga rectangular array of circuit elements usually used to generate one set of signals from another
obsoletethe womb
Word Origin for matrix
C16: from Latin: womb, female animal used for breeding, from māter mother
late 14c., "uterus, womb," from Old French matrice "womb, uterus," from Latin matrix (genitive matricis) "pregnant animal," in Late Latin "womb," also "source, origin," from mater (genitive matris) "mother" (see mother (n.1)). Sense of "place or medium where something is developed" is first recorded 1550s; sense of "embedding or enclosing mass" first recorded 1640s. Logical sense of "array of possible combinations of truth-values" is attested from 1914. As a verb from 1951.
GeologyThe mineral grains of a rock in which fossils are embedded.
BiologyThe component of an animal or plant tissue that is outside the cells. Bone cells are embedded in a matrix of collagen fibers and mineral salts. Connective tissue consists of cells and extracellular fibers in a liquid called ground substance. Also called extracellular matrix
MathematicsA rectangular array of numeric or algebraic quantities subject to mathematical operations.
AnatomyThe formative cells or tissue of a fingernail, toenail, or tooth.
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