tatami

noun ta·ta·mi \ tä-ˈtä-mē , ta- \

Updated on: 31 Mar 2018

Definition of tatami

plural tatami or tatamis

: straw matting used as a floor covering in a Japanese home

Recent Examples of tatami from the Web

Designed for himself and his family, the box-like home features clean, minimalist interiors inspired by traditional Japanese tatami rooms, with nary a nautical trope in sight.

— lauren ro, Curbed, "This houseboat doesn’t look like a houseboat at all," 27 Mar. 2018
The central sushi bar has been removed, and a sunken tatami table has been added as the new focal point.

— courtney dabney, star-telegram, "Piranha kills it with ramen, too, in an inviting, remodeled space in Arlington | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 16 Mar. 2018
Ponder your new purchase away from the South Congress crowds at Sa Tén's tatami room (a common place of comfort in Japanese culture).

— alexandra misch, Esquire, "The Best Restaurants and Bars to Hit Up in Austin During SXSW," 1 Mar. 2018
These accommodations are characterized by tatami mat flooring, low wooden tables, shoji screens, futon bedding, and yukata robes.

— christina liao, Vogue, "6 of the Most Luxurious Ryokans in Japan," 12 Jan. 2018
Most of the spacious rooms are Western in style, with beds rather than futons, and trade in tatami mats for wooden flooring.

— christina liao, Vogue, "6 of the Most Luxurious Ryokans in Japan," 12 Jan. 2018
Our spacious tatami room had a wraparound terrace directly on the harbor and views from every window.

— adam h. graham, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Ise-Shima Peninsula Is a Portal Into Old Japan," 2 June 2017
As for the rooms, décor is also traditional, with tatami-mat floors and low-lying furniture; some also have lovely open-air bathrooms.

— alisha prakash, USA TODAY, "Seven hotels that will make you want to visit Japan," 4 Oct. 2017
How Ono had jumped down onto all fours and begun licking the tatami mats and futon and squirmed on them like a beast.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "The Ghosts of the Tsunami," 25 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tatami.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tatami

Japanese

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First Known Use: 1614

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