🧘 A flat pad 🧶 A tangled mass 🧶 To tangle 🖼️ A picture border 🏗️ A thick base 🌫️ No shine 💄 Not shiny

mat

1 7.4

A thick concrete base that spreads a building's weight over soft ground

noun
/mæt/

Specialized

: losa de cimentación

To ensure stability, they used a reinforced concrete mat under the structure built on soft ground.

Examples

The engineers laid a thick concrete mat to provide strong support for the new building's foundation.
Once you already have one or two sprouts showing up in your trays, turn your heat mat off or remove them from the heat.
If lightning strikes the cabin, that lightning current is directed into the local ground mat.

Academic text (1996)
On the Yellow Medicine River, a new toe-wood sod mat had just been installed with help from a hydrologist from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Lucas Youngsma, to help stabilize its eroding banks.

Blog text (17)
The building's foundation consisted of a durable mat made from reinforced concrete to prevent shifting.

Synonyms

raft

vsmat

Specialized

1 8.0

A large concrete base that supports a building on soft ground

is the thicker extended layer used by engineers for the same support

raft foundation

vsmat

Specialized

6.7

A large concrete slab under a building that spreads its weight to stop sinking on soft ground

is the deeper continuous layer rather than a single flat slab

Idioms

to go to the mat

Informal

5 7.6

Argue strongly to protect an idea or position

to roll out the welcome mat

Informal

1 4.8

Make someone feel very welcome by giving special care

to called on the mat

Archaic

8.9

To have a boss or leader tell you off for doing something wrong

Compounds

welcome mat

10 1.7

A small mat outside a door for wiping shoes and greeting visitors

bath mat

4 1.0

A small rug on the bathroom floor that soaks up water and keeps you from slipping

prayer mat

2 2.5

A small rug Muslims kneel on when they pray

gym mat

1 1.6

A thick pad on the floor that makes landings softer and safer

wrestling mat

1 2.8

A thick padded surface that wrestlers use to avoid injury when they fall

beer mat

1 1.8

A small mat that you put under a glass of beer to stop drips

mat board

1 3.9

A stiff flat board you put around a picture inside a frame to protect and show it

place mat

1 1.2

A small mat under a person's plate that protects the table and decorates it

drip mat

3.7

A small mat placed under a glass to protect a table or counter from water

mat rep

Jargon

8.2

One time you do an exercise on a mat

mouse mat

2.5

A small pad under a computer mouse that helps it move smoothly

sea mat

9.9

A group of small animals that grow like underwater moss on rocks or seaweed

table mat

1.1

A small flat pad that goes under plates to protect the table from heat and scratches

water mat

9.9

A water plant with yellow flowers that grows at pond edges in western and central United States

water mat

3.1

A flat mat that floats on water for sitting, lying, or playing

Surface Forms

mat singular

mats plural

Etymology

Mat for a concrete foundation uses the same picture of a flat pad: it is a wide, flat 'mat' of concrete put under a building to spread and support the weight.