matrix

[ mey-triks, ma- ]

noun

, plural ma·tri·ces [mey, -tri-seez, ma, -], ma·trix·es.

1. 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.

2. Anatomy. a formative part, as the corium beneath a nail.
3. Biology.
   1. the intercellular substance of a tissue.
   2. ground substance.
4. Petrology. the fine-grained portion of a rock in which coarser crystals or rock fragments are embedded.
5. fine material, as cement, in which lumps of coarser material, as of an aggregate, are embedded.
6. Mining. gangue.
7. Metallurgy. a crystalline phase in an alloy in which other phases are embedded.
8. Printing. a mold for casting typefaces.
9. master ( def 20 ).
10. 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.
11. (in a press or stamping machine) a multiple die or perforated block on which the material to be formed is placed.
12. Mathematics. a rectangular array of numbers, algebraic symbols, or mathematical functions, especially when such arrays are added and multiplied according to certain rules.
13. 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.
14. Also called master. a mold made by electroforming from a disk recording, from which other disks may be pressed.
15. Archaic. the womb.

matrix

/ ˈmæ-; ˈmeɪtrɪks /

noun

1. a substance, situation, or environment in which something has its origin, takes form, or is enclosed
2. anatomy the thick tissue at the base of a nail from which a fingernail or toenail develops
3. the intercellular substance of bone, cartilage, connective tissue, etc
4. 1. the rock material in which fossils, pebbles, etc, are embedded
   2. the material in which a mineral is embedded; gangue
5. printing
   1. a metal mould for casting type
   2. a papier-mâché or plastic mould impressed from the forme and used for stereotyping Sometimes shortened tomat
6. (formerly) a mould used in the production of gramophone records. It is obtained by electrodeposition onto the master
7. a bed of perforated material placed beneath a workpiece in a press or stamping machine against which the punch operates
8. metallurgy
   1. the shaped cathode used in electroforming
   2. the metal constituting the major part of an alloy
   3. the soft metal in a plain bearing in which the hard particles of surface metal are embedded
9. the main component of a composite material, such as the plastic in a fibre-reinforced plastic
10. 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: ( ) Compare determinant
11. linguistics the main clause of a complex sentence
12. computing a rectangular array of circuit elements usually used to generate one set of signals from another
13. obsolete.
    the womb

matrix

/ mā′trĭks /

, Plural matrices mā′trĭ-sēz′,măt′rĭ-

1. Geology.
   The mineral grains of a rock in which fossils are embedded.
2. 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 .
3. Biology.
   Also called extracellular matrix
4. Mathematics.
   A rectangular array of numeric or algebraic quantities subject to mathematical operations.
5. Anatomy.
   The formative cells or tissue of a fingernail, toenail, or tooth.

Word History and Origins

Origin of matrix¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English matris, matrix, from Latin mātrix “female animal kept for breeding, parent stem (of plants)” ( Late Latin: “register,” originally of such beasts), derivative of māter “mother”; mother ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of matrix¹

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