mate
mate1 / māt/ • n. 1. each of a pair of birds or other animals: a male bird sings to court a mate. ∎ inf. a person's husband, wife, or other sexual partner. ∎ one of a matched pair: a sock without its mate.2. [in comb.] a fellow member or joint occupant of a specified thing: his tablemates. ∎ Brit., inf. used as a friendly form of address between men or boys: “See you then, mate.” ∎ Brit., inf. a friend or companion: I was with a mate my best mate, Steve.3. an assistant or deputy, in particular: ∎ an assistant to a skilled worker: a plumber's mate. ∎ a deck officer on a merchant ship subordinate to the master. See also first mate.• v. 1. [intr.] (of animals or birds) come together for breeding; copulate: successful males may mate with many females| [as n.] (mating) ovulation occurs only if mating has taken place. ∎ [tr.] bring (animals or birds) together for breeding. ∎ join in marriage or sexual partnership: people tend to mate with others in their own social class.2. [tr.] join or connect mechanically: a four-cylinder engine mated to a five-speed gearbox. ∎ [intr.] be connected or joined.DERIVATIVES: mate·less adj.mate2 • n. & v. Chess short for checkmate.
maté
ma·té / ˈmäˌtā/ (also yerba maté) • n. 1. (also maté tea) a bitter, caffeine-rich infusion of the leaves of a South American shrub. ∎ the leaves of this shrub. 2. the South American shrub (Ilex paraguariensis) of the holly family that produces these leaves.
mate
mate
So vb. XIII.