mat

1 of 6

noun (1)

ˈmat 

1

a(1)

: a piece of coarse, woven, plaited, or felted fabric used especially 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 (such as a dish) especially 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 filaments or strands especially of organic matter

an algal mat

a mat of unkempt hair

3

: a large slab usually of reinforced concrete used as the supporting base of a building

mat

2 of 6

verb (1)

matted; matting

transitive verb

1

: to provide with a mat or matting

2

a

: to form into a tangled mass

dirt and filth matted her hair

b

: to pack down so as to form a dense mass

intransitive verb

: to become matted

mat

3 of 6

verb (2)

ˈmat 

matted; matting

transitive verb

1

or less commonly matte or matt : to make (something, such as a metal, glass, or color) matte

2

: to provide (a picture) with a mat

mat

4 of 6

adjective

less common spelling of matte entry 2

: lacking or deprived of luster (see luster entry 1 sense 1) or gloss: such as

a

: having a usually smooth even surface free from shine or highlights

matte metals

a matte finish

b

: having a rough or granular (see granular sense 1) surface

mat

5 of 6

noun (2)

: a border going around a picture between picture and frame or serving as the frame

mat

6 of 6

noun (3)

: matrix sense 2a

Examples of mat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For tedious dish-washing that takes more than five minutes, make sure to invest in these plush anti-fatigue mats that better support your feet. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Oct. 2025

To this end, in addition to choreographies, Arps uses dumbbell, ankle and wrist weights as well as yoga blocks, straps and mats in her practice, depending on the different classes. —Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

When Wood Mulch Is Best Garden Paths And Play Areas Wood mulch and wood chips will mat down to make a firm but spongy surface for your garden paths and around playsets. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 5 Oct. 2025

Right after being rescued, the white cat had matted, almost grey fur, with hollow eyes surrounded by dark circles, and missing patches of fur around the nose. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025

Adjective

Choose from mat Pilates, Pilates with special equipment (like a reformer), or other class styles to suit you. —Sohaib Imtiaz, Verywell Health, 14 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English meatte, from Late Latin matta, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew miṭṭāh bed

Noun (2)

French mat dull color, unpolished surface, from mat, adjective — more at matte

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb (1)

1549, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1602, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1845, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1904, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing mat

• bath mat
• beer mat
• go to the mat
• mouse mat
• place mat
• prayer mat
• put/roll/throw out the welcome mat
• table mat
• welcome mat

Rhymes for mat

• at
• bat
• batt
• brat
• cat
• chat
• fat
• flat
• gat
• gnat
• hat
• kat

Kids Definition

mat

1 of 5 noun

ˈmat 

1

a

: a piece of coarse fabric of rush, straw, or wool

b

: a piece of material in front of a door to wipe dirty shoe soles on

c

: a decorative piece of material used under a dish or vase

d

: a pad or cushion for gymnastics or wrestling

2

: something made up of many tangled strands

a thick mat of vegetation

mat

2 of 5 verb

matted; matting

1

: to provide with a mat or matting

2

: to become or cause to become a tangled mass

mat

3 of 5 verb

ˈmat 

matted; matting

1

also matte or matt : to give a dull effect to

2

: to border (a picture) with a mat

mat

4 of 5

variant of matte entry 2

mat

5 of 5 noun

1

: a border of stiff paper (as cardboard) going around a picture between picture and frame or serving as the frame

2

: a dull finish

Etymology

Noun

Old English meatte "mat," from Latin matta (same meaning); of Semitic origin

Medical Definition

mat

1 of 2 adjective

variants or matt or matte

ˈmat 

1

: lacking or deprived of luster or gloss : having a usually smooth even surface free from shine or highlights

2

: having a coarse rough rugose or granular surface

bacteria that form mat colonies on agar

mat

2 of 2 noun

: a mat colony of bacteria