Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small, flat piece of material: A "mat" is a piece of material, often fabric, rubber, or straw, placed on a floor or other surface to protect it, wipe feet on, or provide a soft surface.
   • A thick, flat pad for sports or exercise: In sports, a "mat" is a padded piece of equipment placed on the floor for activities like gymnastics or wrestling.
   • A tangled mass: A "mat" can be a dense, interwoven mass of something like hair, weeds, or fibers.
   • A border for a picture: A "mat" (or matte) is a flat border, often of cardboard, placed around a picture inside a frame.

2. Verb:

   • To become tangled: To "mat" means to become twisted or pressed together into a dense, often messy, mass.
   • To provide with a mat: To "mat" can mean to cover or fit something with a mat.

3. Adjective:

   • Not shiny; dull: "Mat" (also spelled matte) describes a surface that does not reflect light, lacking gloss or shine.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Please wipe your shoes on the mat before entering.
  • The gymnast performed her routine on the mat.
  • There was a mat of old leaves covering the forest floor.
  • We chose a white mat to frame the photograph.

• Verb:

  • The dog's fur matted after it played in the mud.
  • The gallery will mat all the paintings for the exhibition.

• Adjective:

  • She preferred mat paint for the walls because it hid imperfections.
  • The photo had a beautiful mat finish.

Advanced Usage

• "On the mat" (idiomatic): To be called to account or reprimanded, often by someone in authority.

  • The employee was on the mat for missing the deadline.

• "Welcome mat": A mat placed at an entrance, often with the word "welcome," symbolizing hospitality.

  • They put out the welcome mat for their new neighbors.

Variants and Related Words

• Matte (adj/n): A common alternative spelling for the adjective meaning "dull" and the noun for a picture border.
• Matting (n): The material used to make mats; also the process of becoming matted.
  • The matting in the hallway was worn out.
• Doormat (n): A mat for wiping shoes; (figuratively) a person who allows others to treat them badly.
• Placemat (n): A mat placed on a table under a plate or dish.

Synonyms

• Noun (pad): Rug, pad, coaster.
• Noun (tangle): Tangle, snarl, thicket.
• Verb (tangle): Tangle, felt, snarl.
• Adjective (dull): Dull, flat, lusterless.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Combinations

• Mat together: To become stuck or tangled into a single mass.
  • The fibers matted together after being washed in hot water.
• Mat down: To press something flat and dense.
  • The heavy rain matted down the tall grass.

Related Idioms

• Roll out the red carpet (contrasting idiom): To give someone a very special, formal welcome. (This contrasts with the simpler "welcome mat.")
  • The city rolled out the red carpet for the visiting dignitaries.

Adjective

1. not reflecting light; not glossy
   • flat wall paint
   • a photograph with a matte finish

Noun

1. a small pad of material that is used to protect surface from an object placed on it
2. the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
3. a master's degree in teaching
4. a mass that is densely tangled or interwoven
   • a mat of weeds and grass
5. sports equipment consisting of a piece of thick padding on the floor for gymnastic sports
6. mounting consisting of a border or background for a picture
7. a thick flat pad used as a floor covering

Verb

1. change texture so as to become matted and felt-like
   • The fabric felted up after several washes
2. twist together or entwine into a confusing mass
   • The child entangled the cord