mate
noun [ C ] uk/meɪt/ us/meɪt/
(SEXUAL PARTNER)
（动物的）配偶
an animal's sexual partner
Peacocks use their beautiful tails to attract mates. 孔雀用美丽的尾巴来吸引配偶。
(FRIEND)
B1 UK informal朋友，伙伴
a friend
We've been mates since our school days. 我们从学生时代起就是朋友。
I usually go out with some of my mates from the office on Saturdays.
She's my best mate. 她是我最好的朋友。
[ as form of address ] UK informal（尤用作男人间的友善称呼）老兄，老弟，伙计
used as a friendly way of talking to someone, especially a man
Have you got the time, mate? 老兄，你知道几点了吗？
- More examples
- "I've bought you a drink." "Cheers, mate."
- "How was your party?" "Top, mate."
- I'm meeting my mates at seven.
(HELPER)
UK助手，帮手
a person who is employed to help a skilled worker
a carpenter's/plumber's mate 木工／管道工的助手
(SHIP)
（商船上的）大副
a type of officer on a trading ship rather than a military ship
He had worked as a ship's mate for ten years. 他当了10年的大副。
mate
verb [ I or T ] uk/meɪt/ us/meɪt/
（使）交配
to have sex and produce young, or to make animals do this
Tigers mate repeatedly over a period of several days. 老虎在几天里多次交配。
Mating a horse with a donkey produces a mule. 马和驴交配后生出骡子。
Idiom
mate for lifeidiom （动物）终生保持同一配偶
If animals mate for life, they keep the same sexual partner for their whole life.