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   mate

   /māt/

   noun

   • 1. each of a pair of birds or other animals: "a male bird sings to court a mate"
   • ▪ a person's husband, wife, or other sexual partner: informal "he couldn't satisfy his frisky young mate" Similar partnerhusbandwifespouseloverlive-in loveramoursignificant otherinamoratoinamoratacompanionhelpmatehelpmeetconsortinformal:other halfbetter halfhubbymissusmissisold manold ladyold womanold dutchtrouble and strife
   • ▪ one of a matched pair: informal "a sock without its mate" Similar matchfellowtwincompanionpairone of a pairother halfequivalentcounterpart
   • 2. a fellow member or joint occupant of a specified thing: "his tablemates" Similar partnerhusbandwifespouseloverlive-in loveramoursignificant otherinamoratoinamoratacompanionhelpmatehelpmeetconsortinformal:other halfbetter halfhubbymissusmissisold manold ladyold womanold dutchtrouble and strife
   • 3. a friend or companion: informal British "my best mate Steve" Similar friendcompanionboon companioncomradeintimatefamiliarconfidantalter egosecond selfplaymateclassmateschoolmateworkmateteam-mateflatmateroommateinformal:palchumbuddybosom palsidekickcullysparcronymain manchinamuckerbuttyoppoamigocompadrepaisancohortbrobunkiegabbahomeboymarrowmarrermarraarchaic:compeerrare:fidus Achates
   • ▪ used as a friendly form of address between men or boys: "“See you then, mate.”" Similar manmy friendinformal:palchumcocksquiremateyinformal, dated:old fellowold beanold boyold chapold fruitinformal:boyobudbusteramigoMacbrobubbabojackpartnercobberdiggerbhaiyaarjongokie
   • 4. an assistant to a skilled worker: British "a plumber's mate" Similar assistanthelperapprenticesubordinatecollaboratoraccompliceaider and abetterinformal:sidekick
   • ▪ a deck officer on a merchant ship subordinate to the master.

   verb

   • 1. (of animals or birds) come together for breeding; copulate: "successful males may mate with many females" Similar breedcoupleformal:copulate
   • ▪ bring (animals or birds) together for breeding: "a male is mated to several females" Similar couplepairjoinbring together
   • 2. connect or be connected mechanically: "a four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed gearbox"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Middle Low German māt(e) ‘comrade’, of West Germanic origin; related to meat (the underlying concept being that of eating together).

   Derivatives

   • 1. mateless adjective

   Scrabble Points: 6

   • M

     3

   • A

     1

   • T

     1

   • E

     1

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