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
matted; matting
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
: to become matted
matted; matting
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
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
: a border going around a picture between picture and frame or serving as the frame
Examples of mat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2024
The result is harmful red tide events, changes in salinity, and declining sea grass mats.
—Max Inchausti, Field & Stream, 24 Apr. 2024
Linen and mohair floor mats absorb your feet, while your entire body is gently pummeled by one of the eight massage modes.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2024
Beyond cookware and gadgets, Martha Stewart’s kitchen collection also includes functional accessories, like this anti-fatigue mat.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
In some temperatures, Brien said that the mats can even save lives.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2024
Use dog-friendly shampoo to avoid mats and tangles.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Starting with mat work, Rosager led us through writing prompts, breathwork and gentle movement, easing us into confluence with our dream material.
—Amy Raasch, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
This mat also comes with suction cups so it can be hung on a window.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024
Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Blood is matted into the white paintwork and dark upholstery.
—Matthew Mulligan, NBC News, 7 July 2023
How to prevent fur matting Brush your dog's hair down to the skin often.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Rabbit adopters must perform perpetual grooming to keep the rabbit’s fur from matting and must keep a close eye on the bunnies’ diet and poops.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024
The matting situation was so bad that staff at HSTB had to sedate him in order to shave him.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024
But if that's the case, Chen Moonves better start working on her eyebrow arch and mat chat skills.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 9 Aug. 2023
To avoid tangling and matting, Koudou recommends spraying the ends with water and brushing the hair out lightly.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 19 Jan. 2024
This is particularly important for breeds with long or dense fur prone to matting.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023
Noun
Desk mats & mouse pads Create a more ergonomic work space with a colorful desk mat or mouse pad to prevent sliding and offer more support to your arms and wrists, while also keeping your desk from incurring excessive scratches and dings.
—Kelsey Chapman, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2024
The result is harmful red tide events, changes in salinity, and declining sea grass mats.
—Max Inchausti, Field & Stream, 24 Apr. 2024
Linen and mohair floor mats absorb your feet, while your entire body is gently pummeled by one of the eight massage modes.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2024
Beyond cookware and gadgets, Martha Stewart’s kitchen collection also includes functional accessories, like this anti-fatigue mat.
—Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024
In some temperatures, Brien said that the mats can even save lives.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2024
Use dog-friendly shampoo to avoid mats and tangles.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Starting with mat work, Rosager led us through writing prompts, breathwork and gentle movement, easing us into confluence with our dream material.
—Amy Raasch, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
This mat also comes with suction cups so it can be hung on a window.
—Laura Lu, Parents, 15 Apr. 2024
Verb
Dogs with matting experience pain when touched, but crave the affection of being petted.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Blood is matted into the white paintwork and dark upholstery.
—Matthew Mulligan, NBC News, 7 July 2023
How to prevent fur matting Brush your dog's hair down to the skin often.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 4 Apr. 2024
Rabbit adopters must perform perpetual grooming to keep the rabbit’s fur from matting and must keep a close eye on the bunnies’ diet and poops.
—Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024
The matting situation was so bad that staff at HSTB had to sedate him in order to shave him.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 13 Feb. 2024
But if that's the case, Chen Moonves better start working on her eyebrow arch and mat chat skills.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 9 Aug. 2023
To avoid tangling and matting, Koudou recommends spraying the ends with water and brushing the hair out lightly.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 19 Jan. 2024
This is particularly important for breeds with long or dense fur prone to matting.
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mat
Cite this Entry
“Mat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mat. Accessed 3 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mat
1 of 5 noun1
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
matted; matting
1
also matte
or matt
: to give a dull effect to
2
: to border (a picture) with a mat
mat
4 of 5variant of matte entry 2
mat
5 of 5 noun1
: 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
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
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