[mat] n [ME, fr. OE meatte, fr. LL matta, of Sem origin; akin to Heb mittah bed] (bef. 12c) 1 a (1): a piece of coarse, woven, plaited, or felted fabric used esp. as a floor covering or a support (2): a piece of material placed at a door for wiping soiled shoe soles b: a decorative piece of material used under a small item (as a dish) esp. for support or protection c: a large thick pad or cushion used as a surface for wrestling, tumbling, and gymnastics
2: something made up of densely tangled or adhering strands esp. of organic matter "algal ~" "a ~ of unkempt hair"
3: a large slab usu. of reinforced concrete used as the supporting base of a building
[2]mat vb mat.ted ; mat.ting vt (1549) 1: to provide with a mat or matting
2. a: to form into a tangled mass b: to pack down so as to form a dense mass ~ vi: to become matted [3]mat vt mat.ted ; mat.ting (1602) 1: to make (as a metal, glass, or color) matte
2: to provide (a picture) with a mat [4]mat var of
[2]matte [5]mat n [F mat dull color, unpolished surface, fr. mat, adj.--more at matte] (1845): a border going around a picture between picture and frame or serving as the frame [6]mat n (1904): matrix 2a