[tuh-tah-mee] 
| (in Japanese houses) any of a number of thick, woven straw mats of uniform dimensions, about three feet by six feet (91 cm by 183 cm), the placing of which determines the dimensions of an interior. |
| ta·ta·mi (tä-tä'mē, tə-) n. pl. tatami or ta·ta·mis Straw matting used as a floor covering especially in a Japanese house. [Japanese.] |
tatami
rectangular mat used as a floor covering in Japanese houses. It consists of a thick straw base and a soft, finely woven rush cover with cloth borders. A tatami measures approximately 180 by 90 cm (6 by 3 feet) and is about 5 cm (2 inches) thick. In shinden and shoin domestic architecture, tatami completely cover the floor.
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