matto

noun

mat·​to

ˈmät(ˌ)ō,

ˈma-

variants or less commonly matta or mata

ˈmätə,

ˈma-

plural -s

: dense tropical American forest

also : reclaimed land naturally covered with such forest

Word History

Etymology

Portuguese mato, mata, from Latin matta mat

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!