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| mate [ mayt ] |
noun (plural mates) |
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| Definition: |
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1. partner in sex or wedlock: a sexual or marriage partner
(
informal
)
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2. breeding partner: either of a pair of animals that breed together
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3. officer in merchant marine: a deck officer of a rank below the master on a merchant ship
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4. petty officer: a petty officer in the U.S. Navy who assists a warrant officer
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5. skilled worker's helper: an assistant to a skilled worker
  a plumber's mate
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6. something that matches: either of a pair of things that belong together
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7. U.K. friend: a friend, also used as a friendly, or sometimes hostile, form of address to a man
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8. U.K. used to address somebody: used as a friendly, or sometimes hostile, form of address to a man
(
informal
)
(
usually used in combination
)
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verb (past and past participle mat·ed, present participle mat·ing, 3rd person present singular mates) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb breed: to come together or bring animals together to breed
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2. intransitive verb have sex: to engage in sex
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3. transitive verb connect two objects: to combine or connect two things
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4. transitive and intransitive verb marry: to join two people in marriage, or become joined in marriage
(
informal or humorous
)
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| [14th century. < Middle Low German gemate] |
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| mate·less adjective |
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