Definitions for matrixˈmeɪ trɪks, ˈmæ-; ˈmeɪ trɪˌsiz, ˈmæ-

ma•trixˈmeɪ trɪks, ˈmæ-; ˈmeɪ trɪˌsiz, ˈmæ-(n.)(pl.)ma•tri•ces; ma•trix•es.

something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates.
a formative tissue, as the epithelium from which nails grow.
Category: Anatomy, Zoology
the intercellular substance of a tissue.
Category: Cell Biology
Ref: ground substance (def. 1). 1
the fine-grained portion of a rock in which coarser crystals or rock fragments are embedded.
Category: Petrology
Category: Mining
Ref: gangue.
a crystalline phase in an alloy in which other phases are embedded.
Category: Metallurgy
a mold for casting typefaces.
Category: Printing
(in a press or stamping machine) a multiple die or perforated block on which the material to be formed is placed.
a rectangular array of numbers, algebraic symbols, or mathematical functions, esp. when such arrays are added and multiplied according to certain rules.
Category: Math
a similar rectangular array consisting of rows and columns of numbers, symbols, etc., used in displaying statistical variables, linguistic features, or other data.
Category: Language/Linguistics, Statistics, Common Vocabulary

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

matrix(noun)
(mathematics) a rectangular array of quantities or expressions set out by rows and columns; treated as a single element and manipulated according to rules
matrix(noun)
(geology) amass of fine-grained rock in which fossils, crystals, or gems are embedded
matrix(noun)
an enclosure within which something originates or develops (from the Latin for womb)
matrix, intercellular substance, ground substance(noun)
the body substance in which tissue cells are embedded
matrix(noun)
the formative tissue at the base of a nail
matrix(noun)
mold used in the production of phonograph records, type, or other relief surface

matrix(Noun)
The womb.
matrix(Noun)
The material or tissue in which more specialized structures are embedded.
matrix(Noun)
An extracellular matrix, the material or tissue between the cells of animals or plants.
matrix(Noun)
Part of the mitochondrion.
matrix(Noun)
The medium in which bacteria are cultured.
matrix(Noun)
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.
matrix(Noun)
A two-dimensional array.
matrix(Noun)
A table of data.
matrix(Noun)
A geological matrix, the outer material of a rock consisting of larger grains embedded in a material consisting of smaller ones.
matrix(Noun)
The sediment surrounding and including the artifacts, features, and other materials at a site.
matrix(Noun)
The environment from which a given sample is taken.

Origin: From matrice, from matrix, from mater.

Matrix(noun)
the womb
Matrix(noun)
hence, that which gives form or origin to anything
Matrix(noun)
the cavity in which anything is formed, and which gives it shape; a die; a mold, as for the face of a type
Matrix(noun)
the earthy or stony substance in which metallic ores or crystallized minerals are found; the gangue
Matrix(noun)
the five simple colors, black, white, blue, red, and yellow, of which all the rest are composed
Matrix(noun)
the lifeless portion of tissue, either animal or vegetable, situated between the cells; the intercellular substance
Matrix(noun)
a rectangular arrangement of symbols in rows and columns. The symbols may express quantities or operations

Matrix
[FidoNet] 1. What the Opus BBS software and sysops call FidoNet. 2. Fanciful term for a cyberspace expected to emerge from current networking experiments (see the network). The name of the rather good 1999 cypherpunk movie The Matrix played on this sense, which however had been established for years before. 3. The totality of present-day computer networks (popularized in this sense by John Quarterman; rare outside academic literature).

Citation

"matrix." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2013. Web. 18 May 2013. <http://www.definitions.net/definition/matrix>.