Mat
A
mat is a generic term for a piece of fabric or flat material, generally placed on a floor or other flat surface, which serves a range of purposes including: ▪ providing a regular or flat surface, such as a
mousepad. ▪ protecting that which is beneath the mat, such as a
place mat or the matting used in archival framing and preservation of documents and paintings. ▪ protecting that which is above the mat, such as a
wrestling or
gymnastics mat, or an
anti-vibration mat. ▪ changing the state of that which passes above it, such as a
doormat attracting dirt from shoes. In domestic settings: ▪ A
doormat, more frequently spelled
door-mat, is a flat, usually rectangular object placed immediately outside or inside the entrance to a house or other building, to allow people to easily scrub or wipe the soles of their shoes before entering. Doormats are usually made from tough, long-lasting material such as coir, palmyra fibres and stalks, nylon, rubber, cloth, or aluminium and other metals.