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noun
1.
husband or wife; spouse.
2.
one member of a pair of mated animals.
3.
one of a pair: I can't find the mate to this glove.
4.
a counterpart.
5.
EXPANDan associate; fellow worker; comrade; partner (often used in combination): classmate; roommate.
6.
friend; buddy; pal (often used as an informal term of address): Let me give you a hand with that, mate.
7.
Nautical.
b.
any of a number of officers of varying degrees of rank subordinate to the master of a merchant ship.
c.
an assistant to a warrant officer or other functionary on a ship.
8.
an aide or helper, as to an artisan; factotum.
9.
a gear, rack, or worm engaging with another gear or worm.
10.
COLLAPSEArchaic. an equal in reputation; peer; match.
verb (used with object)
11.
to join as a mate or as mates.
12.
to bring (animals) together for breeding purposes.
13.
to match or marry.
14.
to join, fit, or associate suitably: to mate thought with daring action.
15.
EXPANDto connect or link: a telephone system mated to a computerized information service.
16.
COLLAPSEto treat as comparable.
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Mating
is always a great word to know.
So is zedonk. Does it mean:
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
| an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance. |
Origin:
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle Low German; replacing Middle English mette, Old English gemetta messmate, guest. See meat
1350–1400; Middle English < Middle Low German; replacing Middle English mette, Old English gemetta messmate, guest. See meat
Related forms
mate·less, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To mating
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
mate
"companion, associate, fellow, comrade," late 14c., from M.L.G. mate, gemate "one eating at the same table, messmate," from P.Gmc. *ga-maton "having food (*matiz) together (*ga-)," which is etymologically identical with companion (q.v.). Meaning "one of a wedded pair"
EXPANDis attested from 1540s. Used as a form of address by sailors, laborers, etc., since at least mid-15c. Meaning "officer on a merchant vessel is from late 15c. The verb, of animals, "to pair for the purpose of breeding" is first recorded c.1600. The verb in chess (early 14c.) is short for checkmate (q.v.) and is not related.
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
mate 1 (māt)
n.
A spouse.
Either of a pair of animals or birds that associate in order to propagate.
Either of a pair of animals brought together for breeding.
To become joined in marriage.
To be paired for reproducing; breed.
To copulate.
mating mat·ing (mā'tĭng)
n.
The pairing of a male and a female for the purpose of reproduction.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
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