matrix

[ mey-triks, ma- ]

/ ˈmeɪ trɪks, ˈmæ- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR matrix ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ma·tri·ces [mey-tri-seez, ma-] /ˈmeɪ trɪˌsiz, ˈmæ-/, ma·trix·es.

something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates, takes form, or develops: The Greco-Roman world was the matrix for Western civilization.

Anatomy. a formative part, as the corium beneath a nail.

Biology.

the intercellular substance of a tissue.
ground substance.

Petrology. the fine-grained portion of a rock in which coarser crystals or rock fragments are embedded.

fine material, as cement, in which lumps of coarser material, as of an aggregate, are embedded.

Mining. gangue.

Metallurgy. a crystalline phase in an alloy in which other phases are embedded.

Printing. a mold for casting typefaces.

master(def 18).

Digital Technology a grid formed by perpendicular intersections that define potential space that may be filled, as by pixels on a screen, ink in dot-matrix printing, or material in 3D printing.

(in a press or stamping machine) a multiple die or perforated block on which the material to be formed is placed.

Mathematics. a rectangular array of numbers, algebraic symbols, or mathematical functions, especially when such arrays are added and multiplied according to certain rules.

Linguistics. a rectangular display of features characterizing a set of linguistic items, especially phonemes, usually presented as a set of columns of plus or minus signs specifying the presence or absence of each feature for each item.

Also called master. a mold made by electroforming from a disk recording, from which other disks may be pressed.

Archaic. the womb.

Origin of matrix

1325–75; Middle English matris, matrix < Latin mātrix female animal kept for breeding (Late Latin: register, orig. of such beasts), parent stem (of plants), derivative of māter mother

Words nearby matrix

matrilocal, matrimonial, matrimony, matrimony vine, matripotestal, matrix, matrix band, matrix bar code, matrix calculus, matrix mechanics, matrix printer

Example sentences from the Web for matrices

In this way the matrices are held in position as casting proceeds.

Inventors at Work |George Iles
The three Vale Press founts and also the punches and matrices were destroyed when the Press ceased publishing.

The Art of the Book |Bernard H. Newdigate
Early seals were generally impressed on both sides; and the seals thus were produced from two dies or matrices.

The Handbook to English Heraldry |Charles Boutell
This done, the matrices are returned to the magazine and distributed, to be again composed in new relations for succeeding lines.

A Book of Exposition |Homer Heath Nugent

His foundry contained punches and matrices for 400 alphabets.

The Every Day Book of History and Chronology |Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for matrices (1 of 2)

matrices

/ (ˈmeɪtrɪˌsiːz, ˈmæ-) /

noun

a plural of matrix

British Dictionary definitions for matrices (2 of 2)

matrix

/ (ˈmeɪtrɪks, ˈmæ-) /

noun plural matrices (ˈmeɪtrɪˌsiːz, ˈmæ-) or matrixes

a substance, situation, or environment in which something has its origin, takes form, or is enclosed

anatomy the thick tissue at the base of a nail from which a fingernail or toenail develops

the intercellular substance of bone, cartilage, connective tissue, etc

the rock material in which fossils, pebbles, etc, are embedded
the material in which a mineral is embedded; gangue

printing

a metal mould for casting type
a papier-mâché or plastic mould impressed from the forme and used for stereotypingSometimes shortened to: mat

(formerly) a mould used in the production of gramophone records. It is obtained by electrodeposition onto the master

a bed of perforated material placed beneath a workpiece in a press or stamping machine against which the punch operates

metallurgy

the shaped cathode used in electroforming
the metal constituting the major part of an alloy
the soft metal in a plain bearing in which the hard particles of surface metal are embedded

the main component of a composite material, such as the plastic in a fibre-reinforced plastic

maths a rectangular array of elements set out in rows and columns, used to facilitate the solution of problems, such as the transformation of coordinates. Usually indicated by parentheses: (a d b e c f) Compare determinant (def. 3)

linguistics the main clause of a complex sentence

computing a rectangular array of circuit elements usually used to generate one set of signals from another

obsolete the womb

Word Origin for matrix

C16: from Latin: womb, female animal used for breeding, from māter mother

Medical definitions for matrices

matrix

[ mā′trĭks ]

n. pl. ma•trix•es

A surrounding substance within which something else originates, develops, or is contained.

The womb.

The formative cells or tissue of a fingernail, toenail, or tooth.

ground substance

A specially shaped instrument, plastic material, or metal strip for holding and shaping the material used in filling a tooth cavity.

Scientific definitions for matrices

matrix

[ mā′trĭks ]

Plural matrices (mā′trĭ-sēz′, măt′rĭ-) matrixes

Geology The mineral grains of a rock in which fossils are embedded.

Biology The component of an animal or plant tissue that is outside the cells. Bone cells are embedded in a matrix of collagen fibers and mineral salts. Connective tissue consists of cells and extracellular fibers in a liquid called ground substance. Also called extracellular matrix

Mathematics A rectangular array of numeric or algebraic quantities subject to mathematical operations.

Anatomy The formative cells or tissue of a fingernail, toenail, or tooth.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

matrix

noun, plural ma·tri·ces [mey-tri-seez, ma-] /ˈmeɪ trɪˌsiz, ˈmæ-/, ma·trix·es.

Origin of matrix

Words nearby matrix

Example sentences from the Web for matrices

British Dictionary definitions for matrices (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for matrices (2 of 2)

noun plural matrices (ˈmeɪtrɪˌsiːz, ˈmæ-) or matrixes

Word Origin for matrix

Medical definitions for matrices

n. pl. ma•trix•es

Scientific definitions for matrices

Plural matrices (mā′trĭ-sēz′, măt′rĭ-) matrixes

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

matrix

noun, plural ma·tri·ces [mey-tri-seez, ma-] /ˈmeɪ trɪˌsiz, ˈmæ-/, ma·trix·es.

Origin of matrix

Words nearby matrix

Words related to matrices

Example sentences from the Web for matrices

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []) .push({}); British Dictionary definitions for matrices (1 of 2)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for matrices (2 of 2)

noun plural matrices (ˈmeɪtrɪˌsiːz, ˈmæ-) or matrixes

Word Origin for matrix

Medical definitions for matrices

n. pl. ma•trix•es

Scientific definitions for matrices

Plural matrices (mā′trĭ-sēz′, măt′rĭ-) matrixes

British Dictionary definitions for matrices (1 of 2)