Dictionary

1matte

Definition of MATTE

variant of 3mat 1

Variants of MATTE

matte or matt
ADVERTISEMENT

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

2matte

adjective \ˈmat\

: having a surface that is not shiny

Full Definition of MATTE

:  lacking or deprived of luster or gloss: as
a :  having a usually smooth even surface free from shine or highlights <matte metals> <a matte finish>
b :  having a rough or granular surface

Variants of MATTE

matte also mat or matt \ˈmat\

Origin of MATTE

French mat, from Old French, faded, defeated
First Known Use: circa 1648

Other Paints and Dyes Terms

bloom, craze, medium, size, vehicle

3matte

noun \ˈmat\

Definition of MATTE

1
:  a crude mixture of sulfides formed in smelting sulfide ores of metals (as copper, lead, or nickel)
2
:  a motion-picture effect in which part of a scene is blocked out and later replaced by footage containing other material (as a background painting)

Origin of MATTE

French, from Middle French, crude metal, curdled milk, from feminine of mat thick, dull, matte
First Known Use: 1839

Other Metals and Metallurgy Terms

assay, bloom, bullion, ductile, ingot, malleable, patina, plate, temper, tensile

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: matter (noun)Previous Word in the Dictionary: MattAll Words Near: matte
ADVERTISEMENT
How to use a word that (literally) drives some people nuts.
Test your vocab with our fun, fast game
Ailurophobia, and 9 other unusual fears