matte
1or mat, matt
[ mat ]
/ mæt /
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adjective
having a dull or lusterless surface: matte paint; a matte complexion; a photograph with a matte finish.
noun
a dull or dead surface, often slightly roughened, as on metals, paint, paper, or glass.
a tool for producing such a surface.
Metallurgy. an unfinished metallic product of the smelting of certain sulfide ores, especially those of copper.
Movies. matte shot.
verb (used with object), mat·ted, mat·ting.
to finish with a matte surface.
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Origin of matte
1First 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”
Words nearby matte
Matta Echaurren, Mattagami, mattamore, Mattaponi, Mattathias, matte, matted, Matteotti, matter, matterate, Matterhorn
Definition for matte (2 of 2)
matte2
[ mat ]
/ mæt /
noun Mining.
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.
Origin of matte
2<German; akin to mat1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use matte in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for matte (1 of 2)
matte1
/ (mæt) /
noun
an impure fused material consisting of metal sulphides produced during the smelting of a sulphide ore
Word Origin for matte
C19: from French
British Dictionary definitions for matte (2 of 2)
matte2
/ (mæt) /
noun
films television a mask used to blank out part of an image so that another image can be superimposed
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