a piece of fabric made of plaited or woven rushes, straw, hemp, or similar fiber, or of some other pliant material, as rubber, used as a protective covering on a floor or other surface, to wipe the shoes on, etc.

a smaller piece of material, often ornamental, set under a dish of food, a lamp, vase, etc.

Sports .

the padded canvas covering the entire floor of a wrestling ring, for protecting the contestants from injury when thrown.

a thick pad placed on the floor for the protection of tumblers and others engaged in gymnastic sports.

a thickly growing or thick and tangled mass, as of hair or weeds.

a sack made of matting, as for coffee or sugar.

a slablike footing of concrete, esp. one for an entire building.

a heavy mesh reinforcement for a concrete slab.

to cover with or as if with mats or matting.

to form into a mat, as by interweaving.

to become entangled; form tangled masses. ?

go to the mat

to contend or struggle in a determined or unyielding way

The President is going to the mat with Congress over the proposed budget cuts.

adjective

dim , flat , lackluster , lusterless

verb

border , carpet , cushion , doily , entangle , felt together , interweave , pad , rug , snarl , tatami , twist