intransitive verb
Definition: To join with another for reproduction or to form a pair, often used in the context of animals or people getting married.
Example: The birds mate during the spring to raise their young.
noun
Definition: A person who is a close friend or associate, or someone with whom you share living space or a romantic relationship.
Example: He is my best mate from college.
transitive verb
Definition: To join or pair closely, often used in the context of animals breeding or forming a close relationship.
Example: The farmer decided to mate the two horses to produce a strong foal.