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Mate vs Mat - What's the difference?

mate | mat |

In intransitive terms the difference between mate and mat

is that mate is to win a game of chess by putting the opponent in checkmate while mat is to form a thick, tangled mess; to interweave into, or like, a mat; to entangle.

In transitive terms the difference between mate and mat

is that mate is to fit (objects) together without space between while mat is to cover, protect or decorate with mats.

As a proper noun Mat is

a diminutive of the male given name Matthew.

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

    * * * * ----

    mat

    English

    (wikipedia mat)

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) (m), from ).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A flat piece of coarse material used for wiping one’s feet, or as a decorative or protective floor covering.
    • Wipe your feet on the mat before coming in.
  • A small flat piece of material used to protect a surface from anything hot or rough; a coaster.
    • They put mats on the table during mealtimes.
  • (athletics) A floor pad to protect athletes.
    • The high jumper cleared the bar and landed safely on the mat .
  • A thickly tangled mess.
    • a mat''' of hair; a '''mat of weeds
  • A thick paper or paperboard border used to inset and center the contents of a frame.
    • the mat of a daguerreotype
  • A thin layer of woven, non-woven, or knitted fiber that serves as reinforcement to a material.
  • (gaming) A material or component needed for a crafting recipe
    • To make a luck potion, you need several rare herbs as mats .
    Derived terms
    * crash mat * doormat * mat slab * place mat * welcome mat

    Verb

    (matt)
  • To cover, protect or decorate with mats.
    • (Evelyn)
  • To form a thick, tangled mess; to interweave into, or like, a mat; to entangle.
  • * Dryden
    • And o'er his eyebrows hung his matted hair.

    Etymology 2

    Compare (m).

    Alternative forms

    * (l)

    Noun

  • (coppersmithing) An alloy of copper, tin, iron, etc.; white metal.

    • Anagrams

    * (l), (l), (l), (l), (l), (l) ----