Read the Latest from M-W
Recent Examples of mate from the Web
-
After the ice, which covered much of North America, retreated, the squirrels would have come back together to mate—
-
But reproduction isn’t just about surviving and staying healthy long enough to mate.
-
In this undated photo provided by Dan Olmstead in May 2017, diamondback moths mate on a cabbage leaf.
-
This means that a male and female form a pair bond, mate, raise their young together, and spend time together, but may also engage in a little mating on the side.
-
For creatures like lions and gorillas and even humans, the largest male has an obvious advantage in the quest to mate (and therefore better odds at passing along his genes).
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of mate
Middle English, from Anglo-French mater, from mat, noun, checkmate, ultimately from Arabic māt (in shāh māt)
First Known Use: 14th century
Recent Examples of mate from the Web
-
Gov. Adam Gregg barnstormed the state last Friday, after Reynolds picked the attorney as her top deputy and running mate for the 2018 election.
-
The St. Louis Zoo's doctrine may be a good one to follow: Simulate the wild environment, and allow animals to choose their own mates.
-
Researchers with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service tried the sterile insect technique (filling the environment with sterile mates), which was unsuccessful, and tested a number of pesticides.
-
While scientists think the tusk's primary function relates to selecting a mate, these new observations show narwhals have another use for the tusks.
-
The Interstate 66 invader Cicadas were flying back and forth across Interstate 66, from one patch of woods to the next, attempting to find mates.
-
The new season picks up where the last one left off with the President Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) as running mates in the 2016 election.
-
It was widely reported that Christie was being considered for the role of running mate; Jared pushed for the selection of Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana instead.
-
Stephen Stills, also a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Crosby’s longtime band mate, all but sputters at such rosy assessments.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
14th Century
First Known Use of mate
14th century
mate
Definition of mate
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 addressb archaic : match, peer
2 : a deck officer on a merchant ship ranking below the captain
3 : one of a pair: such asa : either member of a couple and especially a married coupleb : either member of a breeding pair of animalsc : either of two matched objects
Recent Examples of mate from the Web
-
Gov. Adam Gregg barnstormed the state last Friday, after Reynolds picked the attorney as her top deputy and running mate for the 2018 election.
-
The St. Louis Zoo's doctrine may be a good one to follow: Simulate the wild environment, and allow animals to choose their own mates.
-
Researchers with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service tried the sterile insect technique (filling the environment with sterile mates), which was unsuccessful, and tested a number of pesticides.
-
While scientists think the tusk's primary function relates to selecting a mate, these new observations show narwhals have another use for the tusks.
-
The Interstate 66 invader Cicadas were flying back and forth across Interstate 66, from one patch of woods to the next, attempting to find mates.
-
The new season picks up where the last one left off with the President Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) as running mates in the 2016 election.
-
It was widely reported that Christie was being considered for the role of running mate; Jared pushed for the selection of Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana instead.
-
Stephen Stills, also a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Crosby’s longtime band mate, all but sputters at such rosy assessments.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of mate
Middle English, probably from Middle Low German māt; akin to Old English gemetta guest at one's table, mete food — more at meat
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Genetics Terms
Recent Examples of mate from the Web
-
After the ice, which covered much of North America, retreated, the squirrels would have come back together to mate—
-
But reproduction isn’t just about surviving and staying healthy long enough to mate.
-
In this undated photo provided by Dan Olmstead in May 2017, diamondback moths mate on a cabbage leaf.
-
This means that a male and female form a pair bond, mate, raise their young together, and spend time together, but may also engage in a little mating on the side.
-
For creatures like lions and gorillas and even humans, the largest male has an obvious advantage in the quest to mate (and therefore better odds at passing along his genes).
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mate'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
1509
First Known Use of mate
1509
mate
Definition of maté
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
Recent Examples of maté from the Web
-
Gov. Adam Gregg barnstormed the state last Friday, after Reynolds picked the attorney as her top deputy and running mate for the 2018 election.
-
The St. Louis Zoo's doctrine may be a good one to follow: Simulate the wild environment, and allow animals to choose their own mates.
-
Researchers with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service tried the sterile insect technique (filling the environment with sterile mates), which was unsuccessful, and tested a number of pesticides.
-
While scientists think the tusk's primary function relates to selecting a mate, these new observations show narwhals have another use for the tusks.
-
The Interstate 66 invader Cicadas were flying back and forth across Interstate 66, from one patch of woods to the next, attempting to find mates.
-
The new season picks up where the last one left off with the President Underwood (Kevin Spacey) and his wife Claire (Robin Wright) as running mates in the 2016 election.
-
It was widely reported that Christie was being considered for the role of running mate; Jared pushed for the selection of Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana instead.
-
Stephen Stills, also a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and Crosby’s longtime band mate, all but sputters at such rosy assessments.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'maté'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of maté
French & American Spanish; French maté, from American Spanish mate maté, vessel for drinking it, from Quechua mati vessel
First Known Use: 1758
MATE Defined for Kids
Definition of mate for Students
2 chiefly British : 1chum, 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.
Definition of mate for Students
mated
;mating
1 : to join as married partners
2 : to come or bring together for breeding These birds mate for life.
Medical Dictionary
mate
Medical Definition of mate
mated
;mating
transitive verb
: to pair or join for breedingintransitive verb
: copulate
Learn More about mate
-
See words that rhyme with mate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for 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
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up mate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!