a piece of material placed on a floor or other flat surface, serving a range of purposes including safety, cleanliness, and decoration, a small piece of coarse fabric used for wiping one's shoes or feet before entering a building

play mat, mouse mat, coaster mat

Formal and Informal Expressions of mat

In different contexts, you can replace 'mat' with suitable alternatives. In a more formal setting, 'floor covering, footcloth' is apt. In informal speech or writing, 'rug, carpet' is a commonplace synonym.

mat: Explore its Definition & Usage

mat Definition

1a piece of material placed on a floor or other flat surface, serving a range of purposes including safety, cleanliness, and decoration
2a small piece of coarse fabric used for wiping one's shoes or feet before entering a building

Using mat: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "mat" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

Example
The yoga studio had colorful mats laid out for the class.
Example
He wiped his muddy boots on the mat before entering the house.
Example
The welcome mat at the front door was frayed and worn.
Example
The gymnast performed her routine on the padded mat.

mat Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for mat

Phrases with mat

play mat
a mat designed for children to play on, often with colorful designs and interactive features
Example
The daycare center had a large play mat with alphabet letters and numbers for the kids to learn.
mouse mat
a small mat used to provide traction for a computer mouse
Example
He bought a new mouse mat with a picture of his favorite sports team on it.
coaster mat
a small mat used to protect surfaces from moisture or heat damage caused by drinks
Example
She placed a coaster mat under her glass of water to prevent rings on the wooden table.

Origins of mat

from Old English 'matt', meaning 'a mat, matting'

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Summary: mat in Brief

A 'mat' [mæt] is a piece of material that serves various purposes, such as safety, cleanliness, and decoration. It can be used as a flooring or doormat, or as a small piece of fabric for wiping shoes or feet. Examples include yoga mats, welcome mats, and gymnastics mats. Other types of mats include play mats for children, mouse mats for computers, and coaster mats for drinks.