maté

[mah-tey, mat-ey, mah-tey] /ˈmɑ teɪ, ˈmæt eɪ, mɑˈteɪ/
noun
1.
a tealike South American beverage made from the dried leaves of an evergreen tree.
2.
a South American tree, Ilex paraguariensis, that is the source of this beverage.
3.
the dried leaves of this tree.
Also, mate.
Also called Paraguay tea, yerba maté.
Origin
1710-20; < American Spanish mate, orig. the vessel in which the herb is steeped < Quechua mati
Examples from the web for maté
  • Mate insurance provides a safeguard against reasonable risks of losing a partner.
  • My untenured office mate several years ago had a situation in which she was overtly pressured by a coach.
  • For mammals that form leks, however, scientists thought that factors other than mate choice attracted females to the party.
  • But unlike the other slugs, they mate while suspended from a long thread of slime.
  • Temporal: if they mate at different times, are active at different times, this can affect if they ever interbreed.
  • But they mate in fall and make desert cameos at night or in cool weather.
  • Usually, males will mate with many different females throughout their lifetimes.
  • Many species don't mate until they're in their teens, and then may bear small litters only once every two years.
  • The social dynamics of play require that players agree to play and not to eat one another or fight or try to mate.
  • Males want to spread their genes far and wide and mate with as many females as possible.
British Dictionary definitions for maté

maté

/ˈmɑːteɪ; ˈmæteɪ/
noun
1.
an evergreen tree, Ilex paraguariensis, cultivated in South America for its leaves, which contain caffeine: family Aquifoliaceae
2.
a stimulating milky beverage made from the dried leaves of this tree
Modern Greek name Paraguay tea, yerba, yerba maté
Word Origin
C18: from American Spanish (originally referring to the vessel in which the drink was brewed), from Quechua máti gourd

mate1

/meɪt/
noun
1.
the sexual partner of an animal
2.
a marriage partner
3.
  1. (informal, mainly Brit & Austral, NZ) a friend, usually of the same sex: often used between males in direct address
  2. (in combination) an associate, colleague, fellow sharer, etc: a classmate, a flatmate
4.
one of a pair of matching items
5.
(nautical)
  1. short for first mate
  2. any officer below the master on a commercial ship
  3. a warrant officer's assistant on a ship
6.
(in some trades) an assistant: a plumber's mate
7.
(archaic) a suitable associate
8.
(Austral, slang) mate rates, the reduced rate charged for work done for a friend
verb
9.
to pair (a male and female animal) or (of animals) to pair for reproduction
10.
to marry or join in marriage
11.
(transitive) to join as a pair; match
Derived Forms
mateless, adjective
Word Origin
C14: from Middle Low German; related to Old English gemetta table-guest, from metemeat

mate2

/meɪt/
noun, verb
1.
(chess) See checkmate
Word Origin and History for maté

mate

n.

"associate, fellow, comrade," mid-14c., also "companion" (late 14c.), from Middle Low German mate, gemate "one eating at the same table, messmate," from Proto-Germanic *ga-maton "having food (*matiz) together (*ga-)," which is etymologically identical with companion. Cognate with Danish and Swedish mat, German Maat "mate," Dutch maat, from German. Meaning "one of a wedded pair" is attested from 1540s. Used as a form of address by sailors, laborers, etc., since at least mid-15c. Meaning "officer on a merchant vessel is from late 15c.

in chess, "a condition of checkmate," c.1300, mat, from Middle French mat, from Old French mater (see mate (v.2)).

v.

c.1500, "to equal, rival," 1590s as "to match, couple, marry, join in marriage," from mate (n.1). Also, of animals, "to pair for the purpose of breeding." Related: Mated; mating.

"checkmate," c.1300, from Old French mater "to checkmate, defeat, overcome," from mat "checkmated" (see checkmate (v.)).

maté in Medicine

mate 1 (māt)
n.

  1. A spouse.

  2. Either of a pair of animals or birds that associate in order to propagate.

  3. Either of a pair of animals brought together for breeding.

v. mat·ed, mat·ing, mates

  1. To become joined in marriage.

  2. To be paired for reproducing; breed.

  3. To copulate.

Slang definitions & phrases for maté

mate

noun

A friend of the same sex; a friend or companion: Give me a hand, mate (1380+)