maté Syllabification: (ma·té)Pronunciation: /ˈmäˌtā/Definition of maté noun 1 (also maté tea) an infusion of the leaves of a South American shrub, which is high in caffeine and bitter. the leaves of the maté shrub. 2 (also yerba maté) the South American shrub of the holly family which produces maté leaves. Ilex paraguariensis, family Aquifoliaceae Origin: early 18th century: from Spanish mate, from Quechua matimaté in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of maté in the British & World English dictionary
