Dictionary

mate en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• [mæɪt] (Australia)
• (Australia) audio
• māt
• [meːt] (Canada, Scotland)
• [mɛjt] (British, Southern, Standard)
• /meɪt/
• [meɪt] (Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Germanic *ga- Proto-Indo-European *meh₂d-der. Proto-Germanic *matiz Proto-Germanic *matjô Proto-West Germanic *gamatjôder. Old Saxon gimatoder. Middle Low German matebor. Middle English mate English mate From Middle English mate, a borrowing from Middle Low German mate (“messmate”) (replacing Middle English mett, mette (“table companion, mate, partner”), from Old English ġemetta (“sharer of food, table-guest”)), from Old Saxon gimato, derived from Proto-Germanic *gamatjô, itself from *ga- (“together”) (related to German and Dutch ge-) + *matjô (from *matiz (“food”)), related to Old English mete (“food”)). From the same Middle Low German source stems German Low German Maat (“journeyman, companion”), German Maat (“naval non-commissioned officer”). Cognates include Saterland Frisian Moat (“friend, buddy, comrade, mate”), Dutch maat (“mate, partner, colleague, friend”). More at Old English ġe-, English co-, English meat. Doublet of maat. Compare typologically Latin compāniō (whence companion) (< con- + panis + -ō), Russian однока́шник (odnokášnik) (< одно- (odno-) + ка́ша (káša) + -ник (-nik)).

Meanings

1. A fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.
   • A "mate" was a "mate" - share and share alike, no matter how bad might be the times, or how long a spell of ill luck had attended them. 1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 152:
2. (especially, of a non-human animal) A breeding partner.
   • Such overt displays of avowed sexual prowess – or at least, desperate availability – are not limited to the countryside. Even in the city, birds and animals and stockbrokers and nurses find ways of signalling their suitability as a mate. 2015 April 16, Richard P. Grant, “Sex and the successful fundraiser”, in The Guardian:
3. (Australia, Ireland, New-Zealand, South-Africa, UK, colloquial, qualifier:sometimes elsewhere in the Commonwealth) A friend, usually of the same sex.
   • He's my best mate.
   • I'm going to the pub with a few mates.
4. (Australia, Ireland, New-Zealand, South-Africa, UK, colloquial, qualifier:sometimes elsewhere in the Commonwealth) Friendly term of address to a stranger, usually male, of similar age.
   • Excuse me, mate, have you got the time?
5. In naval ranks, a non-commissioned officer or his subordinate (e.g. Boatswain's Mate, Gunner's Mate, Sailmaker's Mate, etc).
6. A ship's officer, subordinate to the master on a commercial ship.
7. A first mate.
8. A technical assistant in certain trades (e.g. gasfitter's mate, plumber's mate); sometimes an apprentice.
9. The other member of a matched pair of objects.
   • I found one of the socks I wanted to wear, but I couldn't find its mate.
10. A suitable companion; a match; an equal.
    • Ye knew me once no mate / For you; there sitting where you durst not soar. 1667, John Milton, “Book IV”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

Forms

Deriveds

Norman no mates · amate · Billy no mates · remate · breakfast-mate · matey · Nigel no mates · matehood · mateable · unmate · inmate · undermate · nonmate · plane-mate · farm-mate · mateship · Johnny no mates · checkmate · train-mate · outmate · intermate · matess · mateless

Hyponyms

taskmate · jobmate · reflexmate · selfmate · fuckmate · watchmate · ropemate · wombmate · clutchmate · prisonmate · bunkmate · raftmate · birthmate · gaolmate · boothmate · sheltermate · old mate · hallmate · lunchmate · running mate · wardmate · classmate · library mate · linemate · messmate · floormate · wingmate · stalemate · housemate · fleetmate · battery mate · littermate · aerographer's mate · squadronmate · bookmate · roostmate · bedmate · steersmate · tentmate · threatmate · brinkmate · lovemate · bandmate · squadmate · batchmate · premate · Claymate · coursemate · rowmate · cellmate · roommate · guildmate · chief mate · cavemate · nestmate · office mate · skainsmate · mismate · blockmate · draftmate · kennelmate · clonemate · sitemate · playmate · copemate · carmate · seatmate · chairmate · workmate · boatswain's mate · gangmate · dreammate · tripmate · copesmate · shiftmate · crashmate · trencher mate · sharemate · cradlemate · flatmate · cribmate · shipmate · crewmate · studiomate · pewmate · stablemate · suitemate · teammate · loftmate · boat mate · Lolli's mate · checkmate · clan mate · deskmate · tribemate · townmate · tombmate · bunkermate · cubemate · crèchemate · labmate · chambermate · jailmate · yokemate · soulmate · first mate · platoonmate · schoolmate · tourmate · cagemate · churchmate · warmate · campmate · choirmate · chatmate

Synonyms

homeskillet · pal · lover · dude · geez · bud · cove · fere · chaver · friend · buddy · kith · gink · bredrin · butty · peeps · compadre · babber · old bean · pardner · geezer · comrade · cock · fam · tovarish · fettler · friend · buddy · billy · buddo · chum · companion · dawg · surry · buddy · mucker · matey · bruv · shag · fellow · mate · homie · good old boy · chuck · cobber · cocker · punk · sport · marrow · crony · china · duck · wantok

Translations (146)

enm make (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · ota اش (other member of a pair) · nl maat (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · cy mêt (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · hi साथी (friend — see also friend) · it aiutante (trade assistant) · it secondo (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · cy mêt (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · ru прия́тель (friend — see also friend) · mi mete (nautical: NCO or his subordinate in naval ranks) · bg другар (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · fi toveri (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · hu társ (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · fi kumppani (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · yue 朋友 (friend — see also friend) · ru са́мка (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · it membro (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · pt parceira (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · it assistente (trade assistant) · pt camarada (friend — see also friend) · hu pajtás (friend — see also friend) · ja 相手 (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · ota یولداش (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · my မိတ် (friend — see also friend) · de Gegenstück (other member of a pair) · enm mate (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · ga céile (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · el συνεργάτης (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · ru напа́рник (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · ja 友達 (friend — see also friend) · it amico (friend — see also friend) · es socio (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · enm make (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · ru това́рищ (friend — see also friend) · el συνεργάτης (trade assistant) · yue 老友 (friend — see also friend) · el συνάδελφος (trade assistant) · de Kumpel (friend — see also friend) · it compagno (friend — see also friend) · it copulatore (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · ka მეგობარი (friend — see also friend) · nl kameraad (friend — see also friend) · nl maat (trade assistant) · yua láakʼ (friend — see also friend) · it riproduttore (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · tr çift (other member of a pair) · ang ġemaca (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · el υποπλοίαρχος (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · nl paringsgezel (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · fi pari (other member of a pair) · fy freon (friend — see also friend) · hi साथी (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · cy mêts (friend — see also friend) · hu segéd (trade assistant) · tr kardeş (friend — see also friend) · cmn 夥計 /伙计 (friend — see also friend) · hu cimbora (friend — see also friend) · it ufficiale in seconda (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · fi perämies (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · cmn 朋友 (friend — see also friend) · mi e hoa (friend — see also friend) · ota زوج (other member of a pair) · de Freund (friend — see also friend) · nl makker (friend — see also friend) · fr camarade (friend — see also friend) · it affiliato (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · ms pasangan (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · pt chapa (friend — see also friend) · hu altiszt (nautical: NCO or his subordinate in naval ranks) · nl gabber (friend — see also friend) · cy mêt (friend — see also friend) · ar صَدِيق (friend — see also friend) · ga comrádaí (friend — see also friend) · fi pari (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · ota گوڭلداش (friend — see also friend) · hu pár (other member of a pair) · fi kaveri (friend — see also friend) · ota قولداش (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · hu első tiszt (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · bg помощник-капитан (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · nl maat(je) (friend — see also friend) · ru саме́ц (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · de Kollege (friend — see also friend) · ml ഇണ (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · pt mano (friend — see also friend) · ota همراه (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · el ταίρι (other member of a pair) · ota حریف (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · es colega (friend — see also friend) · de Maat (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · el σύντροφος (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · hu haver (friend — see also friend) · el ταίρι (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · enm make (other member of a pair) · ota چفت (other member of a pair) · es mano (friend — see also friend) · el συνάδελφος (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · nl gezel (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · nl partner (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · nl gast (trade assistant) · ru това́рищ (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · ru па́ра (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · hi सखा (friend — see also friend) · nl scheepsmaat (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · ru друг (friend — see also friend) · es pareja (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · pt colega (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · cy mêts (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · fy maat (friend — see also friend) · it socio (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · ko 동무 (friend — see also friend) · yue 老死 (friend — see also friend) · fi matruusi (nautical: NCO or his subordinate in naval ranks) · hi सहवासी (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · tr kanka (friend — see also friend) · es compañero (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · hi बंधु (friend — see also friend) · hi साथी (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · pt parceiros (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · ka ამხანაგი (friend — see also friend) · hu pár (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · hi मित्र (friend — see also friend) · cy mêts (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · el συνέταιρος (trade assistant) · ru помо́щник капита́на (nautical: NCO or his subordinate in naval ranks) · pt parceiro (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · ga leathéan (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · de Kollege (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · is maka (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · fi apumies (trade assistant) · ota رفیق (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · zza çıt (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · wyi kirrip (friend — see also friend) · yue 死黨 /死党 (friend — see also friend) · fa رفیق (friend — see also friend) · pt parceiras (of breeding animal: sexual partner) · ru напа́рница (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · enm macche (other member of a pair) · ota آیاقداش (fellow, associate, colleague (in combination)) · fr copain (friend — see also friend) · mi mete (nautical: ship's officer on commercial vessel) · pt cara (friend — see also friend) · cmn 老兄 (friend — see also friend) · el φίλος (friend — see also friend) · it camerata (friend — see also friend) · es compañero (other member of a pair)

mate en · VERB · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• [mæɪt] (Australia)
• (Australia) audio
• māt
• [meːt] (Canada, Scotland)
• [mɛjt] (British, Southern, Standard)
• /meɪt/
• [meɪt] (Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *ḱe? Proto-Indo-European *ḱóm Proto-Germanic *ga- Proto-Indo-European *meh₂d-der. Proto-Germanic *matiz Proto-Germanic *matjô Proto-West Germanic *gamatjôder. Old Saxon gimatoder. Middle Low German matebor. Middle English mate English mate From Middle English mate, a borrowing from Middle Low German mate (“messmate”) (replacing Middle English mett, mette (“table companion, mate, partner”), from Old English ġemetta (“sharer of food, table-guest”)), from Old Saxon gimato, derived from Proto-Germanic *gamatjô, itself from *ga- (“together”) (related to German and Dutch ge-) + *matjô (from *matiz (“food”)), related to Old English mete (“food”)). From the same Middle Low German source stems German Low German Maat (“journeyman, companion”), German Maat (“naval non-commissioned officer”). Cognates include Saterland Frisian Moat (“friend, buddy, comrade, mate”), Dutch maat (“mate, partner, colleague, friend”). More at Old English ġe-, English co-, English meat. Doublet of maat. Compare typologically Latin compāniō (whence companion) (< con- + panis + -ō), Russian однока́шник (odnokášnik) (< одно- (odno-) + ка́ша (káša) + -ник (-nik)).

Meanings

1. (intransitive) To match, fit together without space between.
   • The pieces of the puzzle mate perfectly.
2. (intransitive) To copulate.
   • “In fact, the apes live with us, and have for many ages. We call them the first men—we speak their language quite as much as we do our own; only in the rituals of the temple do we make any attempt to retain our mother tongue. In time it will be forgotten, and we will speak only the language of the apes; in time we will no longer banish those of our people who mate with apes, and so in time we shall descend to the very beasts from which ages ago our progenitors may have sprung.” 1913, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York: Ballantine Books, published 1963, page 172:
3. (intransitive) To pair in order to raise offspring.
4. (transitive) To arrange in matched pairs.
5. (transitive) To introduce (animals) together for the purpose of breeding.
6. (of an animal, transitive) To copulate with.
7. (transitive) To marry; to match (a person).
   • If she be mated with an equal husband. 1611 April (first recorded performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Cymbeline”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i]:
8. (obsolete, transitive) To match oneself against; to oppose as equal; to compete with.
   • I, […] in the way of loyalty and truth, […] / Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be. 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
   • There is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it mates and masters the fear of death. 1625, Francis [Bacon], “Of Death”, in The Essayes […], 3rd edition, London: […] Iohn Haviland for Hanna Barret, →OCLC:
9. (transitive) To fit (objects) together without space between.
10. (intransitive) To come together as companions, comrades, partners, etc.
    • Indeed, some cases of devotion that were met with were quite touching; and very often to all appearances the pairs were not always mated from the same class of society. 1887, Harriet W. Daly, Digging, Squatting, and Pioneering Life in the Northern Territory of South Australia, page 152:
11. (transitive) To move (a space shuttle orbiter) onto the back of an aircraft that can carry it.

Forms

Antonyms

demate

Deriveds

mating

Synonyms

intercourse · bauf · pipe down · sex · dance · hike the Appalachian Trail · bonk · get the dirty water off one's chest · make love · boff · clap cheeks · get one's oats · slap bellies · beat · eff · meddle · hook up · bone · get physical · root · catch a dick · bang · Netflix and chill · pipe · have marital relations · know · cohabit · shag · graft the forked tree · shelve · play hide the sausage · get one's end away · roger · jig-jig · pound · go all the way · tumble · penetrate · sleep together · approach · bump uglies · knock boots · get one's freak on · couple · roll around · breed · stick · make whoopee · get freaky · hide the sausage · bump nasties · pair · share a bed · get it · get one's leg over · show someone one's etchings · hide the wienie · boink · know someone in the biblical sense · play · bop · ming · frick · rock and roll · get lucky · have sex · copulate · hump · hide the salami · do the deed · lay the pipe · common · shaboink · get it on · have it away · do the nasty · have it off · frack · rail · dip one's pen in someone's inkwell · company · have intimate relations · get busy · expletive deleted · engender · match · crack · fuck · engage in sex · make it · make the beast with two backs · screw · ride · couple · get jiggy · discuss Uganda · have sexual relations · couple · get down · frak · do it · see someone's etchings · make out · mate · bounce · lay pipe · haul one's ashes · get laid · strain · get one's groove on · get one's dick wet · exchange flesh · frig · get some

Translations (46)

la coeō (intransitive: copulate) · cmn 交配 (intransitive: copulate) · pt emparelhar (arrange in matched pairs) · nl paren (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · bg чифтосвам (arrange in matched pairs) · sv para sig (intransitive: copulate) · hu párosodik (intransitive: copulate) · bg чифтосвам (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · it montare (intransitive: copulate) · pl kopulować (intransitive: copulate) · it copulare (intransitive: copulate) · el ζευγαρώνω (arrange in matched pairs) · it fare l'amore (intransitive: copulate) · it accoppiare (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · ru спа́риваться (intransitive: copulate) · nl koppelen (arrange in matched pairs) · hu párokba rendez (arrange in matched pairs) · ms awankan (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · el ζευγαρώνω (intransitive: copulate) · hu pároztat (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · ne चिक्नु (intransitive: copulate) · el ζευγαρώνω (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · pl współżyć (intransitive: copulate) · ru спа́ривать (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · it accoppiarsi (intransitive: copulate) · bg съвокуплявам се (intransitive: copulate) · nl paren (arrange in matched pairs) · nl paren (intransitive: copulate) · hi सम्भोग (intransitive: copulate) · fr s'accoupler (intransitive: copulate) · grc ὀχεύω (intransitive: copulate) · de sich paaren (intransitive: copulate) · hu összepárosít (arrange in matched pairs) · cmn 交尾 (intransitive: copulate) · sa यभति (intransitive: copulate) · ms awan (intransitive: copulate) · hu párosít (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · es juntarse (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · hu párzik (intransitive: copulate) · pt acasalar (intransitive: copulate) · hu fedeztet (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · grc ὀχεύω (intransitive: pair in order to raise offspring) · it fornicare (intransitive: copulate) · hu párosít (arrange in matched pairs) · pl spółkować (intransitive: copulate) · kix āchīe-íe (intransitive: copulate)

mate en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• [mæɪt] (Australia)
• (Australia) audio
• māt
• [meːt] (Canada, Scotland)
• [mɛjt] (British, Southern, Standard)
• /meɪt/
• [meɪt] (Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

From Middle English verb maten, from Middle French mater, from Old French noun mat (“checkmate”), from Persian شاه مات (šâh mât).

Meanings

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, clipping) Clipping of checkmate.
   alt of checkmate

Forms

Deriveds

Boden's mate · soul mate · Blind Swine Mate · Arabian mate · Cozio's mate · school mate · check and mate · smother mate · David and Goliath mate · suffocation mate · scholar's mate · epaulette mate · ladder mate · smothered mate · back-rank mate · fool's mate · epaulet mate

mate en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• [mæɪt] (Australia)
• (Australia) audio
• māt
• [meːt] (Canada, Scotland)
• [mɛjt] (British, Southern, Standard)
• /meɪt/
• [meɪt] (Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

From Middle English verb maten, from Middle French mater, from Old French noun mat (“checkmate”), from Persian شاه مات (šâh mât).

Meanings

1. (abbreviation, alt-of, clipping) Clipping of checkmate.
   alt of checkmate

Forms

Translations (7)

hu megmattol (to put an opponent in checkmate) · hu mattot ad (to put an opponent in checkmate) · bg матирам (to put an opponent in checkmate) · ru поста́вить мат (to put an opponent in checkmate) · fi tehdä matti (to put an opponent in checkmate) · cs dát šachmat (to put an opponent in checkmate) · nl schaakmat spelen (to put an opponent in checkmate)

mate en · VERB · etymology 3

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• [mæɪt] (Australia)
• (Australia) audio
• māt
• [meːt] (Canada, Scotland)
• [mɛjt] (British, Southern, Standard)
• /meɪt/
• [meɪt] (Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

From Middle English maten (“to overpower”), from Old French mater (“to kill”), from Vulgar Latin *mattō, of unclear origin.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) To confuse; to confound.
   • I think you are all mated, or stark mad. c. 1594 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Comedie of Errors”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]:

Forms

mate en · NOUN · etymology 4

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• [mæɪt] (Australia)
• (Australia) audio
• māt
• [meːt] (Canada, Scotland)
• [mɛjt] (British, Southern, Standard)
• /meɪt/
• [meɪt] (Received-Pronunciation, US)

Etymology

See maté.

Meanings

1. (alt-of, alternative) Alternative spelling of maté, an aromatic tea-like drink prepared from the holly yerba maté (Ilex paraguariensis).
   alt of maté
2. The abovementioned plant; the leaves and shoots used for the tea

Forms