matrix

ma•trix

[[t]ˈmeɪ trɪks, ˈmæ-[/t]] n. pl. ma•tri•ces [[t]ˈmeɪ trɪˌsiz, ˈmæ-[/t]] ma•trix•es

1) something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates

2) anat. zool. a formative tissue, as the epithelium from which nails grow

3) cbl

a) the intercellular substance of a tissue

b) ground substance 1)

4) pet the fine-grained portion of a rock in which coarser crystals or rock fragments are embedded

5) min

gangue

6) mel a crystalline phase in an alloy in which other phases are embedded

7) pri a mold for casting typefaces

8) (in a press or stamping machine) a multiple die or perforated block on which the material to be formed is placed

9) math. a rectangular array of numbers, algebraic symbols, or mathematical functions, esp. when such arrays are added and multiplied according to certain rules

10) ling. sta cv a similar rectangular array consisting of rows and columns of numbers, symbols, etc., used in displaying statistical variables, linguistic features, or other data

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Etymology: 1325–75; < L mātrīx female animal kept for breeding (LL: register, orig. of such beasts), parent stem (of plants), der. of māter mother