mate

Universal Words noun, verb noun friend 1 [C] (BrE, informal) a friend: They've been best mates since school. * I was with a mate. friendly name 2 [C] (BrE, informal) used as a friendly way of addressing sb, especially between men: Sorry mate, you'll have to wait. * All right, mate? sb you share with 3 [C] (in compounds) a person you share an activity or accommodation with: workmates / teammates / playmates / classmates * my room-mate / flatmate seealsoRUNNINGMATE, SOULMATE bird / animal 4 [C] either of a pair of birds or animals: A male bird sings to attract a mate. sexual partner 5 [C] (informal) a husband, wife or other sexual partner job 6 [C] (BrE) a person whose job is to help a skilled worker: a builder's / plumber's mate on ship 7 [C] an officer in a commercial ship below the rank of captain or MASTER seealsoFIRSTMATE in chess 8 [U] = CHECKMATE verb animals / birds 1 [V] ~ (with sth) (of two animals or birds) to have sex in order to produce young: Do foxes ever mate with dogs? * After mating, the female kills the male. seealsoMATING 2 [VN] ~ sth (to / with sth) to put animals or birds together so that they will have sex and produce young in chess 3 [VN] = CHECKMATE