Mate

Pronunciation

• IPA: /meɪt/
• Rhymes: -eɪt

From Middle English, from Middle Low German mate ("messmate") (replacing Middle English mette from Old English ġemetta ("sharer of food, table-guest")), derived from Proto-Germanic *gamatjô, itself from Proto-Germanic *ga- ("together") (related to German and Dutch ge-) + Proto-Germanic *matjô (from Proto-Germanic *matiz ("food")), related to Old English mete ("food")). More at co-, meat.

Full definition of mate

Noun

1. A fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.
2. (especially of a non-human animal) A breeding partner.
3. (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.
4. (colloquial, British, Australia, New Zealand) a colloquial "sir"; an informal and friendly term of address to a stranger, usually maleExcuse me, mate, have you got the time?
5. (nautical) In naval ranks, a non-commissioned officer or his subordinate (e.g. Boatswain's Mate, Gunner's Mate, Sailmaker's Mate, etc).
6. (nautical) A ship's officer, subordinate to the master on a commercial ship.
7. (nautical) A first mate.
8. A technical assistant in certain trades (e.g. gasfitter's mate, plumber's mate); sometimes an apprentice.
9. 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.
10. A suitable companion; a match; an equal.
• MiltonYe knew me once no mate
  For you; there sitting where you durst not soar.

Synonyms

• fellow
• friend
• buddy
• sir
• partner

Derived terms

Verb

1. (intransitive) To match, fit together without space between.The pieces of the puzzle mate perfectly.
2. (intransitive) To copulate.
3. (intransitive) To pair in order to raise offspring
4. (transitive) To arrange in matched pairs.
5. (transitive) To introduce (animals) together for the purpose of breeding.
6. (transitive) To marry; to match (a person).
• ShakespeareIf she be mated with an equal husband.
7. (transitive) To match oneself against; to oppose as equal; to compete with.
• Francis BaconThere is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it mates and masters the fear of death.
• ShakespeareI, ... in the way of loyalty and truth, ...
  Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be.
8. (transitive) To fit (objects) together without space between.
9. (transitive, aerospace) To move (a space shuttle orbiter) onto the back of an aircraft that can carry it.

Synonyms

• couple
• match
• pair

Antonyms

• (aerospace) demate

Derived terms

• mating

From Middle English verb maten, Middle French mater, from Old French noun mat ("checkmate"), from Persian شاه مات.

Noun

1. (chess) Short for checkmate.

Verb

1. (intransitive) To win a game of chess by putting the opponent in checkmate
2. To confuse; to confound.

See maté

Noun

1. Alternative spelling of maté, an aromatic tea-like drink prepared from the holly yerba maté ().
2. The abovementioned plant; the leaves and shoots used for the tea

Anagrams

• meat
• meta, Meta
• tame
• team