- mat
- mat1noun1》 a thick piece of material placed on the floor and used as protection from dirt, for wiping the feet on, or as a decorative rug.↘a piece of resilient material for landing on in gymnastics, wrestling, or similar sports.2》 a small piece of cork, card, or similar material placed on a surface to protect it from the heat or moisture of an object placed on it.↘(also mouse mat) Brit. a small piece of rigid or resilient material on which a computer mouse is moved.3》 a thick, untidy layer of hairy or woolly material.verb (mats, matting, matted) [usu. as adjective matted] tangle in a thick mass: matted hair.Phraseson the mat informal being reprimanded by someone in authority. [with military reference, in which an accused would stand on the orderly room mat.]OriginOE m(e)att(e), of W. Gmc origin.————————mat2noun short for matrix (in sense 2).————————mat3noun US spelling of matt.
English new terms dictionary. 2014.