Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
dictionary thesaurus view recents

mate

verb (1)
Save Word
\ ˈmāt How to pronounce mate (audio) \
mated; mating

Definition of mate

 (Entry 1 of 5)

transitive verb

: checkmate sense 2

mate

noun (1)

Definition of mate (Entry 2 of 5)

: checkmate sense 1

mate

noun (2)

Definition of mate (Entry 3 of 5)

1a(1) : associate, companion
(2) chiefly British : an assistant to a more skilled worker : helper
(3) chiefly British : friend, buddy —often used as a familiar form of address
b archaic : match, peer
2 : a deck officer on a merchant ship ranking below the captain
3 : one of a pair: such as
a : either member of a couple and especially a married couple
b : either member of a breeding pair of animals
c : either of two matched objects

mate

verb (2)
mated; mating

Definition of mate (Entry 4 of 5)

transitive verb

1 archaic : equal, match
2 : to join or fit together : couple
3a : to join together as mates
b : to provide a mate for

intransitive verb

1 : to become mated gears that mate well
2 : copulate

maté

noun (3)
ma·​té | \ ˈmä-ˌtā How to pronounce maté (audio) \
variants: or mate

Definition of maté (Entry 5 of 5)

1 : a tealike beverage drunk especially in South America
2 : a South American shrub or tree (Ilex paraguariensis) of the holly family whose leaves and shoots are used in making maté also : these leaves and shoots

First Known Use of mate

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb (2)

1509, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (3)

1758, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for mate

Verb (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French mater, from mat, noun, checkmate, ultimately from Arabic māt (in shāh māt)

Noun (2)

Middle English, probably from Middle Low German māt; akin to Old English gemetta guest at one's table, mete food — more at meat

Noun (3)

French & American Spanish; French maté, from American Spanish mate maté, vessel for drinking it, from Quechua mati vessel

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about mate

Time Traveler for mate

Time Traveler

The first known use of mate was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Statistics for mate

Cite this Entry

“Mate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mate. Accessed 26 Feb. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for mate

mate

noun
\ ˈmāt How to pronounce mate (audio) \

Kids Definition of mate

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : companion sense 1, comrade
2 chiefly British : chum entry 1, friend
Hint: British speakers often use mate as a familiar form of address. Good night, mate!
3 : either member of a breeding pair of animals
4 : an officer on a ship used to carry passengers or freight who ranks below the captain
5 : either member of a married couple
6 : either of two objects that go together I lost the mate to this glove.

mate

verb
mated; mating

Kids Definition of mate (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : to join as married partners
2 : to come or bring together for breeding These birds mate for life.

mate

verb
\ ˈmāt How to pronounce mate (audio) \
mated; mating

Medical Definition of mate

 (Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

: to pair or join for breeding

intransitive verb

: copulate

maté

noun
ma·​té
variants: or mate \ ˈmä-​ˌtā How to pronounce mate (audio) \

Medical Definition of maté (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an aromatic beverage used chiefly in South America and especially in Paraguay that has stimulant properties like those of coffee
2 : a South American holly (Ilex paraguayensis) whose leaves and shoots are used in making maté also : these leaves and shoots

Keep scrolling for more

More from Merriam-Webster on mate

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for mate

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with mate

Spanish Central: Translation of mate

Nglish: Translation of mate for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of mate for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mate

Comments on mate

What made you want to look up mate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

injunction

Listen to the pronounciation of injunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

More Confusing Words—Quiz

  • cats on impossible timber
  • The magician ______ moved the selected card to the top of the deck.
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Dictionary Devil

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games