maternity
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and after giving birth and for the care of newly born babies:
Trainee nurses have to work for some weeks in maternity.
maternity² adj [A] for PREGNANCY and giving birth: a mater-nity dress | the hospital's maternity ward
ma'ternity al,lowance also maternity benefit n [U] (in Britain) money provided by the government to a woman before and after the birth of her child if she does not receive MATERNITY PAY → compare MATERNITY PAY
ma'ternity ,leave n [U] time that a mother spends away from work immediately before or after the birth of her baby → compare PATERNITY LEAVE
CULTURAL NOTE Maternity leave is taken with permission from the employer and usually with part or full pay. In Britain, the law says that women who have worked for an employer for more than six months must be given maternity leave with some pay by the employer. In the US, maternity leave is decided by the employer, but many employers do not allow very much.
ma'ternity ,pay also Statutory Maternity Pay abbrev. SMP n (in Britain) money paid to a woman by her employer before and after the birth of her child if she has worked for that employer for more than six months → compare MATERNITY ALLOWANCE
mat-ey /'mæti/ adj infml especially BrE friendly
math·e·mat·i·cal /ˌmæθə'mætɪkəl/ adj 1 of or using mathematics: a mathematical formula | a mathematical genius 2 (of numbers, reasoning etc) exact; PRECISE: It's a mathematical certainty. (=is completely certain) | a mathematical mind —ly /kli/ adv
math·e·ma·ti·cian /ˌmæθəmə'tɪʃən/ n a person who studies and understands mathematics
math·e·mat·ics /ˌmæθə'mætɪks/ also maths /mæθs/ BrE infml || math /mæθ/ AmE — n [U] the science of numbers and of the structure and measurement of shapes, including ALGEBRA and GEOMETRY as well as ARITHMETIC
Math·er, Cotton /'mæðər/ (1663-1728) a US Christian leader who was a PURITAN. He supported the SALEM Witch Trials in 1692, when a court in Salem, Massachusetts, decided that 20 people were guilty of WITCHCRAFT (=using magic for evil purposes) and killed them as punishment.
mat·i·née /'mætɪneɪlˌmætən'eɪ/ n a performance of a play or film given in the daytime, usually in the afternoon
'matinée ,idol /I.. 'a../ n (especially in the 1930s and 1940s) an actor who is very popular, especially with women
'matinée jacket /II-' . ,-/ n a short woollen coat for a baby
mat·ins, mat·tins /'mætɪnz||'mætɪnz/ n [U+sing./pl. v] (often cap.) MORNING PRAYER
Ma·tisse, Hen·ri /mæ'ti:s, 'ɒnrɪlɑ:'nri:/ (1869-1954) a French painter and SCULPTOR who helped to develop FAUVISM as a style of painting. His paintings are mostly of ordinary places and objects, but they use pure bright colours and black lines.
ma·tri·arch /'meɪtrɪɑ:k||-ɑ:rk/ n a woman, especially a mother or grandmother, who rules a family or a group of people → compare PATRIARCH
ma·tri·ar·chal /ˌmætrɪ'ɑ:kəl||-'ɑ:r-/ adj 1 ruled or controlled by women: a matriarchal society 2 of or like a matriarch
ma·tri·ar·chy /'mætrɪɑ:ki||-ɑ:r-/ n [C;U] (an example of) a social system in which the oldest woman is head of the family, and passes power and possessions on to her daughters → compare PATRIARCHY
mat·ri·cide /'mætrɪsaɪd/ n 1 [U] fml the murder of one's mother 2 [C] tech a person guilty of this crime → compare PARRICIDE, PATRICIDE
ma·tric·u·late /mə'trɪkjʊleɪt/ v [I] to become a member of a university, especially after an examination or test
—lation /məˌtrɪkjʊ'leɪʃən/ n [U]
mat·ri·mo·ny /'mætrɪməʊni||-moʊni/ n [U] fml the state of being married → compare PATRIMONY —nial /ˌmætrɪ'məʊniəl/ adj
ma·trix /'meɪtrɪks/ n pl. matrices /-tri:si:z/ or matrixes tech 1 (in MATHEMATICS, science etc) an arrangement of numbers, figures, or signs in a square made up of ordered lines 2 a MOULD (hollow container) into which melted metal, plastic etc is poured to form it into a shape 3 the rock in which hard stones or jewels have been formed 4 a living part in which something is formed or developed, such as the substance out of which the fingernails grow
ma·tron /'mætrɒn/ n 1 BrE a woman in charge of the nurses in a hospital (now officially called a senior nursing officer) 2 especially BrE a woman in a school where children live who is in charge of medical care, repair of clothes, living arrangements etc: Ask Matron to bandage your hand. 3 especially AmE a woman who is in charge of women and/or children, for example in a prison or police station 4 especially lit or old use an older married woman
ma·tron·ly /'mætrɒnli/ adj euph (of a woman) middle-aged and rather fat: a matronly figure
,matron of 'honour n pl. matrons of honour a married woman who helps the bride at a marriage ceremony → compare BRIDESMAID
matt, mat· also matte AmE /mæt/ adj of a dull, not shiny, surface: matt paint | photographs with a matt finish → compare GLOSS¹
mat·ted /'mætɪd/ adj twisted in a thick mass: matted hair/branches
mat·ter¹ /'mætər/ n 1 [C] a subject to which one gives attention; situation or affair: There are several important matters we must discuss. | He went out on a business matter. | That's an interesting idea, but not relevant to the matter in/at hand. (=the subject or situation we are talking about or dealing with) | She's committed a serious offence, but since she's so young we've decided to let the matter drop. (=take no further action about it) | Looking after fifteen noisy children is no laughing matter. (=is difficult) | It's one thing to talk about climbing Mount Everest, but to actually do so is quite another matter/another matter altogether. (=is very much more serious/difficult) | Whether or not it's healthier to be a vegetarian is a matter of opinion. | I've lost my bag, and to make matters worse it had all my money in it. | They wouldn't ask for help unless it were a matter of life and death. (=a dangerously serious matter) | He's furious with her now, but he'll forgive her eventually. It's just a matter of time. | Your mother would never allow it, and for that matter (=as further concerns the same subject) neither would I. 2 [the (with)] a trouble or cause of pain, illness etc: What's the matter; why are you crying? | There's nothing the matter/Nothing's the matter with me. (=nothing is wrong) | What's the matter with the radio? Why isn't it working? 3 [U] the physical material of which everything that we can see or touch is made, as opposed to thought or mind; solids, liquids, and gases: Scientists have calculated the entire amount of matter in the universe. 4 [U] a subject itself as opposed to the form in which it is spoken or written about: He's such a lively and entertaining speaker that his lectures are worth going to, even if the subject matter sounds dull. 5 [U] things of a particular kind or for a particular purpose: I must take some suitable reading matter (=books, magazines etc) for the journey. | advertising matter | vegetable matter | waste matter 6 a matter of a) a little more or less than; about: only a matter of (a few) pennies b) needing as a part or result: Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words. 7 a matter of course a usual event; something natural: When I go out of the house, I lock the door as a matter of course. 8 as a matter of fact really; in fact: 'I thought you wouldn't mind.' 'Well, as a matter of fact I don't. But you should have asked me first.' → see also MATTER-OF-FACT; see FACT (USAGE) 9 no matter (how, where etc) it makes no difference; however, wherever etc: I'll finish the job, no matter how long it takes. → see also GREY MATTER, mince matters (MINCE¹)
matter² v [I (to)] often in negatives] to be important: It doesn't matter (to me) if I miss my train, because there's another one later. | It had never mattered much to her that she had not had a formal education. (=she did not mind) | I wasn't able to speak to her before she left - not that it matters though, because I can phone her tonight.
Mat·ter·horn, the /'mætəhɔ:n||-tərhɔ:rn/ a high mountain in the Alps near the border between Italy and Switzerland. It is popular with climbers, and is known for its shape, which is like a PYRAMID.