first mate

: preceding all others in time, order, or importance: such as

: earliest

: being the lowest forward gear or speed of a motor vehicle

: before another in time, space, or importance

: in the first place

: for the first time

: one that is number one in a series — see Table of Numbers

: something that is first: such as

: the first occurrence or item of a kind

: checkmate

: checkmate

: associate, companion

: an assistant to a more skilled worker : helper

: friend, buddy

: equal, match

: to join or fit together : couple

: to join together as mates

: a tealike beverage drunk especially in South America

: a South American shrub or tree (Ilex paraguariensis) of the holly family whose leaves and shoots are used in making maté