mat
UK: mæt | US: mæt
n. a flat piece of material (e.g., fabric, rubber) used for covering floors, wiping feet, or protecting surfaces
n. a thick pad or cushion used in sports (e.g., wrestling, gymnastics)
vt. to cover or provide with a mat
vt. to tangle or clump together (e.g., hair, fibers)
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The word "mat" traces back to Old English matta, borrowed from Late Latin matta (meaning "mat made of rushes"), likely of Semitic origin (cf. Arabic maṭraḥ "place where something is thrown"). Its core meaning of "a flat, woven covering" has remained remarkably consistent across languages and centuries. The verb sense ("to tangle") emerged later, metaphorically extending the idea of interwoven fibers.
She placed a welcome mat outside the front door.
The gymnast performed a flip on the safety mat.
His hair was matted after swimming in the ocean.
We sat on bamboo mats during the picnic.
The cat loves scratching the doormat.