26984 words

mates

13 definitions • 18 examples
1
an animal's sexual partner:

Examples:

Peacocks use their beautiful tails to attract mates.
2
a friend:

Examples:

We've been mates since our school days.
I usually go out with some of my mates from the office on Saturdays.
best mate She's been my best mate since we were at school together.
3
used as a friendly way of talking to someone, especially a man:

Examples:

Have you got the time, mate?
4
a person who is employed to help a skilled worker:

Examples:

a carpenter's/plumber's mate
5

Examples:

He had worked as a ship's mate for ten years.
6
to have sex and produce young, or to make animals do this:

Examples:

7
a type of tea made from the leaves of a plant grown in South America:

Examples:

I have a break around 7pm to drink mate (a traditional tea) with my family.
In another couple of hours they'd be sipping hot maté in Refugio Frey.
We packed some mate tea and snacks and climbed the steep hill behind La Constancia.
8
used to show that two people share a space or are involved in the same activity:

Examples:

team-mate
workmate
9
a friend, or a person you work with
10

Examples:

Swans keep the same mate for life.
11
A mate is also a husband or wife.
12

Examples:

I can’t find the mate to this sock.
13
to have sex and produce young, or to cause a male and female animal to do this:

Examples:

[ I ] Zoo officials are hoping the pandas will mate.

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