Standard Lemma guide

metate

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /mɛˈtɑːteɪ/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A flat stone with a slightly concave surface, used with another stone (a mano) for grinding maize or other grains.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish metate, from a Nahuan language, from Proto-Nahuan *mətla-tl.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Hopi: mata — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Malayalam: അമ്മിക്കല്ല് (ammikkallŭ) — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Highland Puebla Nahuatl: metat — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Morelos Nahuatl: metlatl — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Tetelcingo-Nahuatl: metlatl — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Zacatlán-Ahuacatlán-Tepetzintla Nahuatl: mitlatl — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Navajo: tsédaashjééʼ — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Spanish: metate — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Taos: óna — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Southeastern Tepehuan: mattur — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Tewa: ó — flat stone for grinding grains
  • Tübatulabal: mana·l — flat stone for grinding grains