matte Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a mixture of sulfides that forms when sulfide metal ores are smelted
  2. noun the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
    matt; mat; lusterlessness; lustrelessness; flatness.
  3. verb change texture so as to become matted and felt-like
    mat up; mat; matte up; felt; matt-up; felt up.
    • The fabric felted up after several washes
  4. adjective satellite not reflecting light; not glossy
    flat; matt; mat; matted.
    • flat wall paint
    • a photograph with a matte finish

WordNet

Matte noun
Etymology
F. matte; cf. F. mat, masc., matte, fem., faint, dull, dim; -- said of metals. See Mate checkmate.
Definitions
  1. (Metallurgy) A partly reduced copper sulphide, obtained by alternately roasting and melting copper ore in separating the metal from associated iron ores, and called coarse metal, fine metal, etc., according to the grade of fineness. On the exterior it is dark brown or black, but on a fresh surface is yellow or bronzy in color.
  2. A dead or dull finish, as in gilding where the gold leaf is not burnished, or in painting where the surface is purposely deprived of gloss.

Webster 1913