Search results for 'mat':

mat¹ noun 1 a flat piece of any carpet-like material, used as a decorative or protective floor-covering, for wiping shoes on to remove dirt, or absorbing impact on landing or falling in gymnastics, etc. 2 a smaller piece of fabric, or a harder material, used under a plate, vase, etc to protect a surface from heat or scratches. 3 a carpet-like, interwoven or tangled covering, eg of vegetation or hair. verb (matted, matting) tr & intr to become, or make something become, tangled or interwoven into a dense untidy mass. matted adj often said of hair: tangled. on the mat see on the carpet under carpet.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon matt or matte: from Latin matta.

mat. abbreviation matinée.

matt or (sometimes) mat adj said eg of paint: having a dull surface without gloss or shine. verb (matted, matting) 1 to produce a dull surface on something. 2 to frost (glass).
ETYMOLOGY: 17c: from French mat a dull colour or unpolished surface.