mat
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a flat piece of material used for wiping your feet or covering a floor.
n.a flat piece of coarse material, such as fabric or rubber, used as a floor covering or for cleaning footwear.
Simple“Please wipe your muddy boots on the mat before you come inside.”
In context“The heavy-duty rubber mat at the entrance successfully trapped most of the grit and moisture brought in by the morning commuters.”
Synonymsrugdoormat - 02 A2 Elementary
n.a small piece of material used to protect a table from hot plates or drinks.
n.a small, flat piece of material, such as cork or plastic, placed under objects to protect a surface from heat, moisture, or scratches.
Simple“Put a mat under that hot coffee cup so you do not burn the wood.”
In context“The host provided decorative cork mats to ensure the antique mahogany table remained protected from the heat of the serving dishes.”
Synonymscoasterplacemat - 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a thick pad on the floor to protect athletes when they fall.
n.a padded floor covering designed to absorb impact and protect athletes during gymnastics, wrestling, or martial arts.
Simple“The gymnast landed safely on the thick blue mat after her routine.”
In context“Safety regulations require high-density foam mats to be placed beneath all apparatus to mitigate the risk of injury during falls.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a thick, messy knot of hair or fur.
n.a densely tangled or knotted mass of hair, fur, or fibrous vegetation.
Simple“The stray dog had several painful mats in its long fur.”
In context“Neglect had allowed the cat's coat to develop severe mats that required professional grooming to remove without damaging the skin.”
- 05 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a decorative border, usually made of cardboard, placed around a picture in a frame.
n.a piece of cardboard or similar material used as a decorative border between a picture and its frame.
Simple“The white mat makes the colours in the photograph look much brighter.”
In context“The framer suggested a charcoal mat to complement the dark tones of the original charcoal sketch.”
UsageOften spelled 'matte' in American English.
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to become twisted together into a thick, messy knot.
v.to become densely tangled or interwoven into a thick mass; often used regarding hair or fibres.
Simple“If you don't brush your hair after swimming, it will mat together.”
In context“The damp wool began to mat during the washing process, ruining the texture of the expensive sweater.”
- 07 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.having a surface that is not shiny.
adj.having a dull or lustreless surface that does not reflect light.
Simple“She preferred a mat finish for the walls rather than a shiny one.”
In context“The photographer opted for a mat paper to reduce glare and emphasise the subtle textures of the landscape.”
UsageCommonly spelled 'matte' in most contexts.