mat

1 of 9

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

see also:

go to the mat

mat

2 of 9

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 9

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 9

adjective (1)

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 9

noun (2)

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

mat

6 of 9

noun (3)

: matrix sense 2a

matte

7 of 9

variants or matt

variant spellings of mat entry 3 sense 1

matte

8 of 9

adjective (2)

ˈmat 

variants or less commonly mat or matt

: 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

matte

9 of 9

noun

ˈmat 

1

: a crude mixture of sulfides formed in smelting sulfide ores of metals (such as copper, lead, or nickel)

2

: a movie effect in which part of a scene is blocked out and later replaced by footage containing other material (such as a background painting)

Synonyms of mat

Adjective (2)

• flat
• gray
• dulled
• dull
• lusterless
• black
• dim
• pale
• dark

Examples of mat in a Sentence

Adjective (2)

a photograph with a matte finish

I chose a paint with a matte finish so the walls wouldn't be too shiny.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Cutting mats out with household scissors can lead to skin injuries if the dog shifts unexpectedly. — Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

The Brazilian scored an early takedown and sought to keep the champion on the mat, attempting to turn the fight into a grappling and ground-and-pound battle. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2026

Verb

Aware of them now, the dog shakes loose the can—his forelock matted, his jowl smeared with beans—and shrinks into the trees with a whimper that makes something tighten in Molly’s own chest. — Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

With these 10 best places for yoga, grab your go-to mat and embrace your inner yogini. — Jasreen Mayal Khanna, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026

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

Adjective

Its 85-inch QLED display features a highly matte anti-glare screen, so your art and movies look lifelike without annoying reflections. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026

The long-wearing formula sets to a semi-matte finish that resists oil and humidity, too. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 26 Nov. 2025

Noun

The final touch—a shiny ganache glaze—sets into a soft matte finish, adding sweetness and a light cocoa bitterness that perfectly complements both batters. — Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 18 Sep. 2026

The silky mattes go on without streaking (like some other inexpensive shadows might) along lashlines, over lids, and through creases for so many possible looks and so many color options (there are nine versions of the palette). — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026

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

Adjective (2)

French mat, from Old French, faded, defeated

Noun

French, from Middle French, crude metal, curdled milk, from feminine of mat thick, dull, 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

Adjective (2)

circa 1648, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1839, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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