1.mate用作名词的意思是“伙伴”,转化为动词意思是“结伙伴; 成配偶”,用于动物时,常作“交尾”“交配”解。
2.mate可用作及物动词,也可用作不及物动词。用作及物动词时接名词或代词作宾语。
3.mate常与介词with连用。

mate with(v.+prep.)
(使); 与…交配 (especially of animals) to (cause to) be joined in sexual union
▲mate with sb/sth
They don't mate with each other.它们彼此不交配。
Dogs do not mate with cats.狗和猫不交配。
The queen bee is likely to mate with two or three drones.后蜂可能会与两三只雄蜂交配。
▲mate sth with sth
They mated a horse with a donkey.他们使一匹马和一头驴交配。
Farmers keep trying to produce better cattle by mating their strongest bulls with their healthiest cows.农民们一直在想让最壮的公牛和最健康的母牛交配以生产更好的牛。

用作不及物动词
▲S+～(+A)
Birds mate in the spring.鸟在春天交配。
The zoo camels have not mated this year.动物园里的骆驼今年还没有交配。
It is often difficult to get animals to mate in captivity.常常很难使被关的动物交配。
用作及物动词
▲S+～+n./pron.
I don't want to mate such a person.我并不想与这样的人为友。
They mate the Zoo's pandas.他们使动物园的熊猫交配繁殖。

［同义词］ n.  associate, fellow, partner
［词源］＜中古英语mate(同伴)

1.mate用作名词,作“配偶,伴侣”解时,主要指动物,偶尔也可指人。
2.mate在英国、澳大利亚以及非正式用语中,还可用作工人之间的一种称呼,即“老兄,老弟,伙计”。

Her mates are waiting for her by the gate.她的同事在门口等她。
He is a mate of mine.他是我的一个伙伴。
The male hunts for food while his mate guards the nest.雌性动物守护巢穴时,雄性动物猎食。
She has been a faithful mate to him.她一直是他忠实的配偶。
The mate is one rank below the captain.大副是低于船长的一个头衔。
“What time is it, mate?”“老兄,几点了?”