*matr*

n. [ Gr. &unr_; color + &unr_; turn, rotation, &unr_; to turn. ] 1. (Physics) An instrument for exhibiting certain chromatic effects of light (depending upon the persistence of vision and mixture of colors) by means of rapidly rotating disks variously colored. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A device in a magic lantern or stereopticon to produce kaleidoscopic effects. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Homo- + atropine. ] (Med.) An alkaloid, prepared from atropine, and from other sources. It is chemically related to atropine, and is used for the same purpose. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. matras; perh. so called from its long narrow neck; cf. OF. matras large arrow, L. materis, mataris, matara, a Celtic javelin, pike; of Celtic origin. ] (Chem.) A round-bottomed glass flask having a long neck; a bolthead. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. mater mother + -arch. ] 1. The mother and ruler of a family or of her descendants; a ruler by maternal right. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A woman who dominates or is the most important member of a group or organization; in businesses, often the founder or owner of the largest interest. [ PJC ]

3. A venerated old woman. [ PJC ]

a. Of or pertaining to a matriarch; governed by a matriarch or matriarchs; as, a matriarchal society. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. The office or jurisdiction of a matriarch; a matriarchal form of government. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Shortened from matriculation. ] admission to a group (especially a college or university). [ slang ]
Syn. -- matriculation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. A genus of chiefly Old World strong-smelling weedy herbs; it comprises plants sometimes included in other genera, such as Tanacetum and Tripleurospermum.
Syn. -- genus Matricaria. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Cf. F. matrice. See Matrix. ] See Matrix. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. centered upon the mother. [ Narrower terms: matriarchal (vs. patriarchal) ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. Of or pertaining to matricide. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. matricidium; mater mother + coedere to kill, slay: cf. F. matricide. See Mother, and cf. Homicide. ] 1. The murder of a mother by her son or daughter. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. [ L. matricida: cf. F. matricide. ] One who murders one's own mother. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Matriculated p. pr. & vb. n. Matriculating. ] [ L. matricula a public roll or register, dim. of matrix a mother, in respect to propagation, also, a public register. See Matrix. ] To enroll; to enter in a register; specifically, to enter or admit to membership in a body or society, particularly in a college or university, by enrolling the name in a register. [ 1913 Webster ]

In discovering and matriculating the arms of commissaries from North America. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To go though the process of admission to membership, as by examination and enrollment, in a society or college. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Matriculated. Skelton. -- n. One who is matriculated. Arbuthnot. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The act or process of matriculating; the state of being matriculated. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The line of descent traced through the maternal side of the family; the mother's line of descent.
Syn. -- enation, cognation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. tracing descent through the female line. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. Matrimony. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. matrimonialis: cf. F. matrimonial. See Matrimony. ] Of or pertaining to marriage; derived from marriage; connubial; nuptial; hymeneal; as, matrimonial rights or duties. [ 1913 Webster ]

If he relied upon that title, he could be but a king at courtesy, and have rather a matrimonial than a regal power. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Connubial; conjugal; sponsal; spousal; nuptial; hymeneal. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In a matrimonial manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Matrimonial. [ R. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. matrimoine, through Old French, fr. L. matrimonium, fr. mater mother. See Mother. ] 1. The union of man and woman as husband and wife; the nuptial state; marriage; wedlock. [ 1913 Webster ]

If either of you know any impediment, why ye may not be lawfully joined together in matrimony, ye do now confess it. Book of Com. Prayer (Eng. Ed.) [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A kind of game at cards played by several persons. [ 1913 Webster ]

Matrimony vine (Bot.), a climbing thorny vine (Lycium barbarum) of the Potato family. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Marriage; wedlock. See Marriage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One related on the mother's side.
Syn. -- enate, matrikin, matrilineal kin, matrilineal sib. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. Matrices [ L., fr. mater mother. See Mother, and cf. Matrice. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Anat.) The womb. [ 1913 Webster ]

All that openeth the matrix is mine. Ex. xxxiv. 19. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence: That which gives form or origin to anything; as: (a) (Mech.) The cavity in which anything is formed, and which gives it shape; a die; a mold, as for the face of a type. (b) (Min.) The earthy or stony substance in which metallic ores or crystallized minerals are found; the gangue. (c) pl. (Dyeing) The five simple colors, black, white, blue, red, and yellow, of which all the rest are composed. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Biol.) The lifeless portion of tissue, either animal or vegetable, situated between the cells; the intercellular substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Math.) A rectangular arrangement of symbols in rows and columns. The symbols may express quantities or operations. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. matrone, L. matrona, fr. mater mother. See Mother. ] 1. A wife or a widow, especially, one who has borne children; a woman of staid or motherly manners. [ 1913 Webster ]

Your wives, your daughters,
Your matrons, and your maids. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

Grave from her cradle, insomuch that she was a matron before she was a mother. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A housekeeper; esp., a woman who manages the domestic economy of a public instution; a head nurse in a hospital; as, the matron of a school or hospital. [ 1913 Webster ]

Jury of matrons (Law), a jury of experienced women called to determine the question of pregnancy when set up in bar of execution, and for other cognate purposes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. The state of a matron. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The collective body of matrons. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Can a politician slight the feelings and convictions of the whole matronage of his country? Hare. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. matronalis. ] Of or pertaining to a matron; suitable to an elderly lady or to a married woman; grave; motherly. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The state of being a matron. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Matronized p. pr. & vb. n. Matronizing ] 1. To make a matron of; to make matronlike. [ 1913 Webster ]

Childbed matronizes the giddiest spirits. Richardson. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To act the part of a matron toward; to superintend; to chaperone; as, to matronize an assembly. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like a matron; sedate; grave; matronly. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Advanced in years; elderly. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Like, or befitting, a matron; grave; sedate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. mater mother + -nymic, as in patronimic. ] See Metronymic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ D. matroos, fr. F. matelot. ] (Mil.) Formerly, in the British service, a gunner or a gunner's mate; one of the soldiers in a train of artillery, who assisted the gunners in loading, firing, and sponging the guns. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. sh^ma sign + tre`pein to turn. ] An instrument for signaling by reflecting the rays of the sun in different directions. Knight. [ 1913 Webster ]

A thin, elastic, uniformly light-colored tobacco leaf, raised in Sumatra and extensively used for cigar wrappers. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Of or pertaining to Sumatra or its inhabitants. -- n. A native of Sumatra. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. qay^ma a wonder + tre`pein to turn. ] (Opt.) An optical instrument or toy for showing the persistence of an impression upon the eyes after the luminous object is withdrawn. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It consists of a card having on its opposite faces figures of two different objects, or halves of the same object, as a bird and a cage, which, when the card is whirled rapidly round a diameter by the strings that hold it, appear to the eye combined in a single picture, as of a bird in its cage. [ 1913 Webster ]