What does "mating" mean?

1. (animal reproduction) the act of two animals coming together to have sex and produce young. 2. (fitting together) describing two parts that are designed to fit perfectly into each other.

mating

n. · adj.

US //ˈmeɪtɪŋ// UK //mˈeɪtɪŋ// mat·ing

1 animal reproduction (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Science

the act of two animals coming together to have sex and produce young.

the pairing of organisms for copulation and reproduction. Uncountable in a general sense, but countable when referring to specific instances.

Example

Spring is the main mating season for many birds in this forest.

Example

Biologists observed the complex mating rituals of the birds of paradise, noting how the males used vibrant plumage to attract a partner.
- breeding
- copulation
- pairing
2 fitting together (adj.)
C1 Advanced Technical Technical

describing two parts that are designed to fit perfectly into each other.

denoting two or more parts that fit together or correspond exactly, such as a plug and a socket.

Example

Check that the mating surfaces of the two pipes are clean before joining them.

Example

The engineer specified that the mating components must be machined to a high tolerance to ensure a vacuum-tight seal.
- mismatched