ma·trix
(mā́trĭks)
[Middle English matrice, from Old French, from Late Latin mātrīx, mātrīc-, from Latin, breeding-animal, from māter, mātr-, mother.]
noun: pl., ma·tri·ces (mā́trĭ-sēź, măt́rĭ-) or ma·trix·es
- A situation or surrounding substance within which something else originates, develops, or is contained: “Freedom of expression is the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every form of freedom” (Benjamin N. Cardozo)
- The womb.
- Anatomy
- The formative cells or tissue of a fingernail, toenail, or tooth.
- See ground substance
- Geology
- The solid matter in which a fossil or crystal is embedded.
- Groundmass.
- A mold or die.
- The principal metal in an alloy, as the iron in steel.
- A binding substance, as cement in concrete.
- Mathematics A rectangular array of numeric or algebraic quantities subject to mathematical operations.
- Something resembling such an array, as in the regular formation of elements into columns and rows.
- Computer Science The network of intersections between input and output leads in a computer, functioning as an encoder or a decoder.
- Printing
- A mold used in stereotyping and designed to receive positive impressions of type or illustrations from which metal plates can be cast. Also called mat2
- A metal plate used for casting typefaces.
- An electroplated impression of a phonograph record used to make duplicate records.
ground substance
noun
- The intercellular material in which the cells and fibers of connective tissue are embedded. Also called matrix
- See hyaloplasm
