matrix
n pl , matrices , matrixes
1 a substance, situation, or environment in which something has its origin, takes form, or is enclosed
2 (Anatomy) the thick tissue at the base of a nail from which a fingernail or toenail develops
3 the intercellular substance of bone, cartilage, connective tissue, etc.
a the rock material in which fossils, pebbles, etc., are embedded
b the material in which a mineral is embedded; gangue
a a metal mould for casting type
b a papier-mâché or plastic mould impressed from the forme and used for stereotyping, (Sometimes shortened to)
mat
6 a mould used in the production of gramophone records. It is obtained by electrodeposition onto the master
7 a bed of perforated material placed beneath a workpiece in a press or stamping machine against which the punch operates
a the shaped cathode used in electroforming
b the metal constituting the major part of an alloy
c the soft metal in a plain bearing in which the hard particles of surface metal are embedded
9 (Maths) a rectangular array of elements set out in rows and columns, used to facilitate the solution of problems, such as the transformation of coordinates. Usually indicated by parentheses: (<matrix>)
Compare →
determinant →
3
10 (Linguistics) the main clause of a complex sentence
11 (Computing) a rectangular array of circuit elements usually used to generate one set of signals from another
12 Obsolete the womb (C16: from Latin: womb, female animal used for breeding, from mater mother)
mat [1]
n
1 a thick flat piece of fabric used as a floor covering, a place to wipe one's shoes, etc.
2 a smaller pad of material used to protect a surface from the heat, scratches, etc., of an object placed upon it
3 a large piece of thick padded material put on the floor as a surface for wrestling, judo, or gymnastic sports
5 ♦
go back to the mat (N.Z.) to abandon urban civilization
6 any surface or mass that is densely interwoven or tangled
a mat of grass and weeds
7 the solid part of a lace design
8 a heavy net of cable or rope laid over a blasting site to prevent the scatter of debris
9 (Civil engineering) short for →
mattress →
3
vb , mats, matting, matted
10 to tangle or weave or become tangled or woven into a dense mass
11 tr to cover with a mat or mats
(Old English matte; related to Old High German matta)
♦
matless adj
mat [2]
n
1 a border of cardboard, cloth, etc., placed around a picture to act as a frame or as a contrast between picture and frame
2 a surface, as on metal or paint
adj
3 having a dull, lustreless, or roughened surface
vb , mats, matting, matted tr
4 to furnish (a picture) with a mat
5 to give (a surface) a mat finish, (Also (for senses 2, 3, 5))
matt
(C17: from French, literally: dead; see checkmate)
mat [3]
n (Printing, informal) short for →
matrix →
5
mat.
abbrev. for matinée
mat grass
n a widespread perennial European grass, Nardus stricta, with dense tufts of bristly leaves, characteristic of peaty moors
sea mat
n a popular name for a →
bryozoan
surf mat
n (Austral)
informal a small inflatable rubber mattress used to ride on waves