matrix

noun

The cavity or mold in which anything is formed.

The metaphorical place where something is made, formed, or given birth.

(biology) The material or tissue in which more specialized structures are embedded.

(biology) An extracellular matrix, the material or tissue between the cells of animals or plants.

(biology) Part of the mitochondrion.

(biology) The medium in which bacteria are cultured.

A table of data.

(mathematics) A rectangular arrangement of numbers or terms having various uses such as transforming coordinates in geometry, solving systems of linear equations in linear algebra and representing graphs in graph theory.

(computing) A two-dimensional array.

(electronics) A grid-like arrangement of electronic components, especially one intended for information coding, decoding or storage.

(geology) A geological matrix.

(archaeology, paleontology) The sediment surrounding and including the artifacts, features, and other materials at a site.

(analytical chemistry) The environment from which a given sample is taken.

(dyeing) The five simple colours (black, white, blue, red, and yellow) from which all the others are formed.

(material science) A binding agent of composite materials, e.g. resin in fibreglass.

(linguistics) Matrix clause is a clause that has another (subordinate) clause embedded within it.

(science fiction) A simulated reality to which many humans are connected. In some works created by sentient machines to subdue humans.

(figurative) A social institution or apparatus perceived as largely deceptive or illusory.

(slang, figurative, science fiction) Alternative letter-case form of Matrix; a controlled environment or situation in which people behave in ways that conform to pre-determined roles. [(science fiction) A simulated reality to which many humans are connected. In some works created by sentient machines to subdue humans.]

(now rare) The womb.

(printing, historical) In hot metal typesetting, a mold for casting a letter.

(printing, historical) In printmaking, the plate or block used, with ink, to hold the image that makes up the print.

Roots

matermatr- · Latin · mother, source

Synonyms & related words for matrix

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Words related to matrix

Explore words related to matrix — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include matrices, diagonalize, hypercube, multidimensional, tensor, cube, eigenvectors, floatstone. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Where does matrix come from?

The word matrix breaks down into one root of Latin origin: the root matr-, from Latin mater (“mother, source”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.