matte (n.1)

"backing for a picture," 1845, from French; see mat (n.2).

matte (n.2)

in metallurgy, "impure and unfinished product of the smelting of copper or other ores," 1839, from French matte, from the adjective meaning "dull, dim" (see mat (adj.)).

Entries linking to matte

mat (adj.)

1640s, "lusterless, dull" (of a color or surface), from French mat "dull, dead surface," from Old French mat "beaten down, withered, afflicted, dejected; dull," which is perhaps from Latin mattus "maudlin with drink," from madere "to be wet or sodden, be drunk," from PIE root *mad- "to be wet, drip" (see mast (n.2)). Or the French word might represent a transferred use from chess of mater "to checkmate, defeat," from Arabic (see mate (v.2)).

mat (n.2)

"sheet of backing material," 1845, from French mat "dull surface or finish" (15c.), noun use of Old French mat (adj.) "dull, beaten down," for which see mat (adj.). The word has been confused with mat (n.1), especially as the latter was used late 19c. for "piece of thick paper or other material placed for ornament or protection immediately under the glass of a picture-frame, with the central part cut out, for the proper display of the picture." As a verb, "to mount (a print) on a cardboard backing," by 1965. Related: Matted; matting.

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Definitions of matte

matte (n.)

a mixture of sulfides that forms when sulfide metal ores are smelted;

matte (n.)

the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss;

Synonyms: flatness / lusterlessness / lustrelessness / mat / matt

matte (v.)

change texture so as to become matted and felt-like;

Synonyms: felt / felt up / mat up / matt-up / matte up / mat

matte (adj.)

not reflecting light; not glossy;

a photograph with a matte finish

Synonyms: flat / mat / matt / matted

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near matte

matroclinous

matron

matronize

matronly

matronymic

matte

matted

matter

Matterhorn

matterless

matter-of-fact