mate

I. transitive verb (mated; mating) Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French mater, from mat, noun, checkmate, ultimately from Arabic māt (in shāh māt) Date: 14th century checkmate 2 II. noun Date: 14th century checkmate 1 III. noun Etymology: Middle English, probably from Middle Low German māt; akin to Old English gemetta guest at one's table, mete food — more at meat Date: 14th century 1. a. (1) associate, companion (2) chiefly British an assistant to a more skilled worker ; helper (3) chiefly British friend, buddy — often used as a familiar form of address b. archaic match, peer 2. a deck officer on a merchant ship ranking below the captain 3. one of a pair: as a. either member of a couple and especially a married couple b. either member of a breeding pair of animals c. either of two matched objects IV. verb (mated; mating) Date: 1509 transitive verb 1. archaic equal, match 2. to join or fit together ; couple 3. a. to join together as mates b. to provide a mate for intransitive verb 1. to become mated <

gears that mate well

> 2. copulate