/mat"euh dawr'/ , n.
1. the principal bullfighter in a bullfight who passes the bull with a muleta and then, in many countries, kills it with a sword thrust; a torero.
2. one of the principal cards in skat and certain other games.
3. ( cap. ) a jet-powered U.S. surface-to-surface missile.
[ 1665-75; mata ( r ) to kill (perh. mattare, presumed deriv. of LL mattus soft, weak; cf. MATTE 1 ) + - dor -TOR ]