a mixture of sulfides that forms when sulfide metal ores are smelted
"The metallurgist analyzed the matte to determine if enough copper had been extracted from the ore during smelting."
the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
"The matte finish on the car's paint absorbs light rather than reflecting it, giving the vehicle a dull appearance without any shiny spots."
A decorative border around a picture used to inset and center the contents of a frame.
"The artist carefully cut the matte to ensure the photograph was perfectly centered within the ornate wooden frame."
In plain English: Matte is a non-shiny surface that looks flat and dull instead of reflecting light.
"She sat on the soft, woven mat placed in front of her bed."
Usage: As a noun, matte refers specifically to the non-reflective paper or cardstock placed behind an image in a photo frame to create a clean border. Do not confuse this framing term with "matte" as an adjective describing any dull, non-shiny surface.
Dull; not reflective of light.
"The matte finish on the new paint absorbs light rather than reflecting it."
In plain English: Matte describes something that is not shiny and does not reflect light.
"She chose a matte black paint to finish her walls because she didn't want a glossy look."
The word matte was borrowed directly from the French language. It entered English with the meaning of being dull or non-shiny, which is its current definition.