1. n. & v.
--n.
1. a friend or fellow worker.
2 colloq. a general form of address, esp. to another man.
3 a each of a pair, esp. of birds. b colloq. a partner in marriage. c (in comb.) a fellow member or joint occupant of (team-mate; room-mate).
4 Naut. an officer on a merchant ship subordinate to the master.
5 an assistant to a skilled worker (plumber's mate).
--v. (often foll. by with)
1. a tr. bring (animals or birds) together for breeding. b intr. (of animals or birds) come together for breeding.
2 a tr. join (persons) in marriage. b intr. (of persons) be joined in marriage.
3 intr. Mech. fit well.
Derivatives:
mateless adj.
Etymology: ME f. MLG mate f. gemate messmate f. WG, rel. to MEAT 2. n. & v.tr. Chess CHECKMATE.
Phrases and idioms:
fool's mate a series of moves in which the first player is mated at the second player's second move. scholar's mate a series of moves in which the second player is mated at the first player's fourth move.
Etymology: ME f. F mat(er): see CHECKMATE