matte
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Not reflecting light; not glossy: Describes a surface that lacks shine or luster, having a dull, flat finish.
- Lacking highlights or contrast: Often used to describe images, photographs, or paints that have a non-reflective, diffuse quality.
Noun:
- A dull, non-glossy finish or surface: The property of having little or no shine.
- A mixture of sulfides: In metallurgy, a substance formed during the smelting of sulfide metal ores.
Verb:
- To give a dull, non-glossy finish to something: To make a surface matte.
- To become tangled or felted: (Less common) To change texture, becoming matted together.
Usage Examples
Adjective:
- She preferred a matte lipstick to a shiny one.
- The artist chose matte paper for the print to reduce glare.
Noun:
- The photo printer offers a choice between gloss and matte.
- The smelting process produced a layer of matte.
Verb:
- The framer will matte the photograph to eliminate reflections.
- The fibers began to matte together after being agitated in the wash.
Advanced Usage
"Matte finish": A very common phrase describing a non-shiny surface treatment.
- Most smartphones are available with either a glossy or a matte finish on the back.
"Matte painting": In visual effects, a painted representation of a landscape or set used to create the illusion of an environment.
- The distant city in the film was actually a detailed matte painting.
Variants and Related Words
Matt (adj): A chiefly British English spelling variant of "matte."
- He ordered the picture frame with a matt surface.
Matted (adj): Describes something, especially hair or fibers, that is tangled into a thick mass.
- The dog's fur was matted with mud.
Matting (n): 1. Material used for mats. 2. The process of giving a matte finish. 3. The process of becoming tangled.
- The matting on the floor was made of coir.
Synonyms
- Adjective: Flat, dull, lusterless, non-reflective.
- Noun: Dull finish, flat finish.
- Verb: Dull, flatten.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases
- Matte down: To apply a substance or treatment to reduce shine.
- The makeup artist used powder to matte down the actor's oily forehead.
Related Idioms
Adjective
- not reflecting light; not glossy
- flat wall paint
- a photograph with a matte finish
Noun
- the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
- a mixture of sulfides that forms when sulfide metal ores are smelted
Verb
- change texture so as to become matted and felt-like
- The fabric felted up after several washes