MATT

adj., n., & v. (also mat) --adj. (of a colour, surface, etc.) dull, without lustre. --n. 1 a border of dull gold round a framed picture. 2 (in full matt paint) paint formulated to give a dull flat finish (cf. GLOSS(1)). 3 the appearance of unburnished gold. --v.tr. (matted, matting) 1 make (gilding etc.) dull. 2 frost (glass). [F mat, mater, identical with mat MATE(2)]