mate

mate

mate¹ [māt]

n.

[ME < MDu, a companion < gemate < Gmc * gamatan < * ga-, together (for IE base see COM-) + * mad-, food, MEAT: hence, orig., one who share meals: cf. COMPANION¹]

1.

a) a companion, comrade, or fellow worker: often used in compounds [classmate]

b) [Brit. Informal] l a chum; buddy; pal: often used as a familiar form of address

2. one of a pair, esp. of a matched pair

3.

a) a husband or wife; spouse

b) the male or female of animals paired for propagation

4. Archaic an equal; fit associate

5. Naut.

a) an officer of a merchant ship, ranking below the captain; specif., FIRST MATE

b) an assistant: in the U.S. Navy, mate is used in the designators of certain petty officers and ratings, as machinist's mate, boatswain's mate

vt.

mated, mating

1. to join as a pair; couple

2. to couple in marriage or sexual union

3. to provide with a mate

vi.

to become mated

mate² [māt]

n., interj., vt.

mated, mating [ME mat < OFr: see CHECKMATE]

CHECKMATE