I. ˈmāt transitive verb
( mat·ed ; mat·ing )
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French mater, from mat, noun, checkmate, ultimately from Arabic māt (in shāh māt )
Date: 14th century
: checkmate 2
II. noun
Date: 14th century
: checkmate 1
III. noun
Etymology: Middle English, probably from Middle Low German māt; akin to Old English gemetta guest at one's table, mete food — more at meat
Date: 14th century
1.
a.
(1) : associate , companion
(2) chiefly British : an assistant to a more skilled worker : helper
(3) chiefly British : friend , buddy — often used as a familiar form of address
b. archaic : match , peer
2. : a deck officer on a merchant ship ranking below the captain
3. : one of a pair: as
a. : either member of a couple and especially a married couple
b. : either member of a breeding pair of animals
c. : either of two matched objects
IV. verb
( mat·ed ; mat·ing )
Date: 1509
transitive verb
1. archaic : equal , match
2. : to join or fit together : couple
3.
a. : to join together as mates
b. : to provide a mate for
intransitive verb
1. : to become mated
gears that mate well
2. : copulate