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Mastiff

A breed of large dogs noted for strength and courage. There are various strains, differing in form and color, and characteristic of different countries.

Mastigophora

A phylum of protozoans the kingdom Protista, consisting mainly of free-living flagellated unicellular organisms, lacking photosynthetic capability. Some members are pathogenic in man.

Mastigopoda

Formerly considered identical to the Infusoria, now distinguished from that group, which has been reordered. See Mastigophora.

Mastigure

Any one of several large spiny-tailed lizards of the genus Uromastix. They inhabit Southern Asia and North Africa.

Masting

The act or process of putting a mast or masts into a vessel; also, the scientific principles which determine the position of masts, and the mechanical methods of placing them.

Mastless

Having no mast; as, a mastless vessel.

Mastodon

An extinct genus of mammals closely allied to the elephant, but having less complex molar teeth, and often a pair of lower, as well as upper, tusks, which are incisor teeth. The species were mostly larger than elephants, and their remains occur in nearly all parts of the world in deposits ranging from Miocene to late Quaternary time.

Mastodonsaurus

A large extinct genus of labyrinthodonts, found in the European Triassic rocks.

Mastodontic

Pertaining to, or resembling, a mastodon; as, mastodontic dimensions.

Mastoid

Resembling the nipple or the breast; -- applied specifically to a process of the temporal bone behind the ear. Pertaining to, or in the region of, the mastoid process; mastoidal.

Mastoiditis

Inflammation in the mastoid process of the temporal bone.

Mastotermes

A primitive genus of termites, mostly extinct; sometimes considered the most primitive isopterans.

masturbate

To achieve sexual gratification by stimulating one's own sexual organs, without the aid of a partner; -- typically to the point of orgasm.

masturbation

The act of masturbating; sexual self-gratification; onanism.

Masty

Full of mast; abounding in acorns, etc.

Mat

To grow thick together; to become interwoven or felted together like a mat, as hair when wetted with a sticky substance; as, a long-haired cat whose fur is matted.

Matachin

An old dance with swords and bucklers; a sword dance.

Mataco

The three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutis tricinctus). See Illust. under Loricata.

Matadore Matador

The killer; the man appointed to kill the bull in bullfights; a bullfighter; a toreador.

Matagasse

A shrike or butcher bird; -- called also mattages.

Matajuelo

A large squirrel fish (Holocentrus ascensionis) of Florida and the West Indies.

Matamata

The bearded tortoise (Chelys fimbriata) of South American rivers.

Matanza

A place where animals are slaughtered for their hides and tallow.

Match

To be united in marriage; to mate.

Matchable

Capable of being matched; comparable on equal conditions; adapted to being joined together; correspondent.

matchboard

A board that has a groove cut into one edge and a tongue cut into the other so they fit tightly together (as in a floor); see match boarding.

matchbook

A small folder of paper safety matches.

matchbush

any of several plants of the genus Gutierrezia having tiny matchlike flowerheads.

Matcher

One who, or that which, matches; a matching machine. See under 3d Match.

matchet

a large heavy knife used in Central and South America as a weapon or for cutting vegetation; usually called machete.

matching

having identical or closely similar appearance or properties; as, a pair of matching candlesticks.

Matchlock

An old form of gunlock containing a match for firing the priming; hence, a musket fired by means of a match.

Matchmaker

One who makes matches for burning or kinding.

Matchmaking

Busy in making or contriving marriages; as, a matchmaking woman.

matchwood

wood in small pieces or splinters; as, the vessel was beaten to matchwood on the rocks.

Mate

To be or become a mate or mates, especially in sexual companionship; as, some birds mate for life; this bird will not mate with that one.

mated

Brought together for sexual activity; bred; -- of animals.

Matelasse

A quilted ornamented dress fabric of silk or silk and wool.

Matelotte Matelote

A stew, commonly of fish, flavored with wine, and served with a wine sauce containing onions, mushrooms, etc.

Mateology

A vain, unprofitable discourse or inquiry.

Mater

See Alma mater, Dura mater, and Pia mater.

Material

To form from matter; to materialize.

Materialism

The doctrine of materialists; materialistic views and tenets; called also philosophical materialism.

Materialist

One who denies the existence of spiritual substances or agents, and maintains that spiritual phenomena, so called, are the result of some peculiar organization of matter. A believer in philosophical materialism.

Materialization

The act of materializing, or the state of being materialized.

Materialize

To appear as a material form; to take substantial shape.

Materiel

Those objects in a complex system which constitute the materials, or instruments employed, in distinction from the personnel, or men; for example, the buildings, libraries, and apparatus of a college, in distinction from its officers; -- used in a collective sense.

Maternal

Of or pertaining to a mother; becoming to a mother; motherly; as, maternal love; maternal tenderness.

maternalistic

showing maternal instincts; behaving as a mother should; motherly.

Maternity

The state of being a mother; motherhood.

maternity

Of or pertaining to childbirth or the period during which a woman is pregnant; as, maternity care; a maternity hospital.

maternity ward

The section of a hospital devoted to assisting women during childbirth and caring for them and their newborn infants until they are released to go home.

matey

having the relationship of friends or pals.

Math

A mowing, or that which is gathered by mowing; -- chiefly used in composition; as, an aftermath.

Mathematical

Of or pertaining to mathematics; according to mathematics; hence, theoretically precise; accurate; as, mathematical geography; mathematical instruments; mathematical exactness.

Mathematics

That science, or class of sciences, which treats of the exact relations existing between quantities or magnitudes, and of the methods by which, in accordance with these relations, quantities sought are deducible from other quantities known or supposed; the science of spatial and quantitative relations.

Mathes

The mayweed. Cf. Maghet.

Mathesis

Learning; especially, mathematics.

Matico

A Peruvian plant (Piperelongatum or Artanthe elongatum), allied to the pepper, the leaves of which are used as a styptic and astringent.

Matie

A fat herring with undeveloped roe.

matin

Of or pertaining to the morning, or to matins; used in the morning; matutinal.

matinal

Relating to the morning, or to matins; matutinal.

matinee

A reception, or a musical or dramatic entertainment, held in the daytime. See Soir/e.

matrass

A round-bottomed glass flask having a long neck; a bolthead.

matriarch

The mother and ruler of a family or of her descendants; a ruler by maternal right.

matriarchal

Of or pertaining to a matriarch; governed by a matriarch or matriarchs; as, a matriarchal society.

Matriarchate

The office or jurisdiction of a matriarch; a matriarchal form of government.

matric

admission to a group (especially a college or university).

Matricaria

A genus of chiefly Old World strong-smelling weedy herbs; it comprises plants sometimes included in other genera, such as Tanacetum and Tripleurospermum.

Matricide

The murder of a mother by her son or daughter.

Matriculation

The act or process of matriculating; the state of being matriculated.

matrilineage

The line of descent traced through the maternal side of the family; the mother's line of descent.

Matrimonial

Of or pertaining to marriage; derived from marriage; connubial; nuptial; hymeneal; as, matrimonial rights or duties.

Matrimony

The union of man and woman as husband and wife; the nuptial state; marriage; wedlock.

matrisib

One related on the mother's side.

Matron

A wife or a widow, especially, one who has borne children; a woman of staid or motherly manners.

Matronal

Of or pertaining to a matron; suitable to an elderly lady or to a married woman; grave; motherly.

Matronize

To make a matron of; to make matronlike.

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