Mate

n. [ Perhaps for older make a companion; cf. also OD. maet companion, mate, D. maat. Cf. Make a companion, Match a mate. ] 1. One who customarily associates with another; a companion; an associate; any object which is associated or combined with a similar object. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, specifically, a husband or wife; and among the lower animals, one of a pair associated for propagation and the care of their young. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A suitable companion; a match; an equal. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye knew me once no mate
For you; there sitting where you durst not soar. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Naut.) An officer in a merchant vessel ranking next below the captain. If there are more than one bearing the title, they are called, respectively, first mate, second mate, third mate, etc. In the navy, a subordinate officer or assistant; as, master's mate; surgeon's mate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. See 2d Mat. [ Obs. ] Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Sp. ] The Paraguay tea, being the dried leaf of the Brazilian holly (Ilex Paraguensis). The infusion has a pleasant odor, with an agreeable bitter taste, and is much used for tea in South America. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. mat, abbrev. fr. échec et mat. See Checkmate. ] (Chess) Same as Checkmate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To be or become a mate or mates, especially in sexual companionship; as, some birds mate for life; this bird will not mate with that one. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Mated; p. pr. & vb. n. Mating. ] 1. To match; to marry. [ 1913 Webster ]

If she be mated with an equal husband. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To match one's self against; to oppose as equal; to compete with. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is no passion in the mind of man so weak but it mates and masters the fear of death. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

I, . . . in the way of loyalty and truth, . . .
Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To breed; to bring (animals) together for the purpose of breeding; as, she mated a doberman with a German shepherd. [ PJC ]

4. To join together; to fit together; to connect; to link; as, he mated a saw blade to a broom handle to cut inaccessible branches. [ PJC ]

adj. 1. Brought together for sexual activity; bred; -- of animals. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. Sorted into pairs of identical size, color, or other properties; -- used of gloves, socks, etc.
Syn. -- paired. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

3. Same as married. Opposite of unmarried; as, they were a devoted couple, mated for life. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖a. [ F., p.p. of matelasser to cushion, to cover as with a mattress, fr. matelas mattress. See Mattress. ] Ornamented by means of an imitation or suggestion of quilting, the surface being marked by depressed lines which form squares or lozenges in relief; as, matelassé silks. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]