Matte, mat, n. a product of the smelting of sulphuretted ores.—Also Regulus and Coarse metal. [Fr.,—Ger.]
Matter, mat′ėr, n. that which occupies space, and with which we become acquainted by our bodily senses: that out of which anything is made: that which receiving a form becomes a substance: the subject or thing treated of: anything engaging the attention: that with which one has to do: cause of a thing: thing of consequence: something requiring remedy or explanation: any special allegation in law: importance: a measure, &c., of indefinite amount: (print.) material for work, type set up: mere dead substance, that which is thrown off by a living body, esp. pus, or the fluid in boils, tumours, and festering sores.—v.i. to be of importance: to signify: to form or discharge matter in a sore:—pr.p. matt′ering; pa.p. matt′ered.—adjs. Matt′erful, full of matter, pithy; Matt′erless; Matt′er-of-fact, adhering to the matter of fact: not fanciful: dry; Matt′ery, significant: purulent.—Matter of course, occurring in natural time and order, as a thing to be expected; Matter of fact, really happening and not fanciful or supposed: not wandering beyond realities. [O. Fr. matiere—L. materia, matter.]
Matting, mat′ing, n. a covering with mats: a texture like a mat, but larger: material for mats.
Mattins. Same as Matins, pl. of Matin.
Mattock, mat′uk, n. a kind of pickaxe for loosening the soil, having the iron ends broad instead of pointed. [A.S. mattuc—W. matog.]
Mattress, mat′res, n. a bed made of a bag stuffed with wool, horse-hair, &c.: a mass of brushwood, &c., used to form a foundation for roads, &c., or for the walls of embankments, &c.—Spring mattress, a mattress in which springs of twisted wire are used to support the stuffed part; Wire mattress, one whose elasticity is produced by a sheet of tightly-stretched wire. [O. Fr. materas (Fr. matelas)—Ar. matrah, a place where anything is thrown.]
Maturate, mat′ū-rāt, v.t. to make mature: (med.) to promote the suppuration of.—v.i. (med.) to suppurate perfectly.—ns. Mat′urant, a maturative; Maturā′tion, a bringing or a coming to maturity: the process of suppurating fully.—adj. Matū′rative, maturing or ripening: (med.) promoting suppuration.—n. a medicine promoting suppuration. [L. maturāre—maturus, ripe.]
Mature, ma-tūr′, adj. grown to its full size: perfected: ripe: (med.) come to suppuration: fully digested, as a plan.—v.t. to ripen: to bring to perfection: to prepare for use.—v.i. to become ripe: to become payable, as a bill.—adj. Matur′able, capable of being matured.—adv. Mature′ly.—ns. Mature′ness, state or quality of being ripe or ready for use; Matur′ity, ripeness: a state of completeness or readiness for use. [L. maturus, ripe.]
Maturescent, mat-ū-res′ent, adj. becoming ripe: approaching maturity. [L. maturescĕre, to become ripe—maturus.]
Matutinal, mat-ū-tī′nal, adj. pertaining to the morning: happening early in the day.—Also Mat′utine. [L. matutinalis, matutinus. See Matin.]