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What is the difference between flatmate and mate?

flatmate | mate | Derived terms |

Mate is a derived term of flatmate.



As nouns the difference between flatmate and mate

is that flatmate is a person with whom one shares a flat while mate is a fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.

As a verb mate is

to match, fit together without space between.

flatmate

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • A person with whom one shares a flat.
  • * 2002 , Elaine Lally, At Home with Computers , page 149,
    • Yet when both Regine and her flatmate' are at home they tend to spend their time in their rooms, although Regine (and probably the ' flatmate too) tends to spend more time in the communal areas of the flat when the other is not at home.
  • * 2007 , C. N. Barton, The Cambridge Diaries: A Tale of Friendship, Love and Economics , page 121,
    • “So, it would probably [be] best if we could find another flatmate and go for a flat of five, and if old Chip does pull out, at least we can then drop down to a flat of four. What do you reckon?”
  • * 2011 , Ghada Osman, A Journey in Islamic Thought: The Life of Fathi Osman , page 63,
    • Kamal moved Fathi?s things into his own room, and the two became flatmates .
    The apartment in which Kamal lived was spacious, with several large rooms and various flatmates .
  • (UK, NZ) A person with whom one shares a rental property, not necessarily a flat.
  • * 1993 , Beryl Fletcher, The Iron Mouth , page 190,
    • It had been weeks since all the flatmates had sat down together for a meal. Communication was breaking down. Written notes had begun to appear all over the house; please don?t touch this food, I bought it especially for Hermione .
  • * 2003 , Jen Birch, Congratulations! It?s Asperger Syndrome , page 51,
    • One night, one of the flatmates (the one who owned the house) was ranting and raving all night about her girlfriend.
  • * 2007 , CCH New Zealand, Top 100 Questions and Answers on Taxing Land Transactions , page 97,
    • The position may have been different when your client was living in the house with the flatmates .

    See also

    * housemate * roommate

    mate

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl), from (etyl) ). More at (l), (l).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.
  • (especially of a non-human animal) A breeding partner.
  • (colloquial, British, Australia, New Zealand) A friend, usually of the same sex.
    • I'm going to the pub with a few mates .
    He's my best mate .
  • (colloquial, British, Australia, New Zealand) a colloquial "sir"; an informal and friendly term of address to a stranger, usually male
    • Excuse me, mate , have you got the time?
  • (nautical) In naval ranks, a non-commissioned officer or his subordinate (e.g. (w, Boatswain's Mate), (w, Gunner's Mate), Sailmaker's Mate, etc).
  • (nautical) A ship's officer, subordinate to the master on a commercial ship.
  • (nautical) A first mate.
  • A technical assistant in certain trades (e.g. gasfitter's mate'', ''plumber's mate ); sometimes an apprentice.
  • The other member of a matched pair of objects.
    • ''I found one of the socks I wanted to wear, but I couldn't find its mate .
  • A suitable companion; a match; an equal.
  • * Milton
    • Ye knew me once no mate / For you; there sitting where you durst not soar.
    Synonyms
    (checksyns) * fellow * friend * buddy * sir * partner * See also
    Derived terms
    (Derived terms) * bedmate * bunkmate * cellmate * classmate * crewmate * flatmate * floormate * housemate * mateship * office mate * roommate * shipmate * teammate * tourmate * workmate

    Verb

  • To match, fit together without space between.
    • The pieces of the puzzle mate perfectly.
  • To copulate.
  • To pair in order to raise offspring
  • To arrange in matched pairs.
  • To introduce (animals) together for the purpose of breeding.
  • To marry; to match (a person).
  • * Shakespeare
    • If she be mated with an equal husband.
  • To match oneself against; to oppose as equal; to compete with.
  • * Francis Bacon
    • There is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it mates and masters the fear of death.
  • * Shakespeare
    • I, / Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be.
  • To fit (objects) together without space between.
  • (aerospace) To move (a space shuttle orbiter) onto the back of an aircraft that can carry it.
    • Synonyms
    (checksyns) * couple * match * pair
    Antonyms
    * (aerospace) demate
    Derived terms
    * mating

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) verb maten, (etyl) mater, from (etyl) noun .

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (chess) Short for checkmate.

    • Verb

  • To win a game of chess by putting the opponent in checkmate
  • To confuse; to confound.
    • (Shakespeare)

    Etymology 3

    See

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • ).
  • The abovementioned plant; the leaves and shoots used for the tea

    • Anagrams

    * * * * ----