noun
mat
mat
noun
1
A flat piece of material laid on a floor to wipe feet, protect a surface, or decorate.
"Wipe your shoes on the mat before coming inside."
"A yoga mat cushioned her knees during practice."
2
A small pad placed under a hot dish or drink to protect a surface.
"Use a mat under the coffee pot so it doesn't scorch the table."
verb
1
To tangle into a thick, dense clump.
"The dog's fur had matted after weeks without grooming."
How to Use Mat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA flat covering you step, sit, or place things on — or, as a verb, hair/fibers tangling into a clump.
Common pairings
welcome mat
yoga mat
hair matted together
Word Forms
matted past tense, mats plural, Mats plural, mats singular
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Etymology
From Old English meatte, ultimately from Late Latin matta ("mat woven from rushes").