Mattness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The quality of having a surface that does not shine or reflect light brightly
2. The state or property of possessing a flat, lusterless finish rather than a glossy one
3. The characteristic of appearing subdued and without gloss or luminosity

Etymology: "Mattness" is a plain formation: the adjective "matte" with the suffix "-ness," which turns an adjective into a noun for a quality. "Matte" itself came into English from French, where "mat" meant lacking shine or polish, and the French word had earlier roots that traced back to Old French and Arabic-influenced terms for something defeated or dulled. The surface quality it names is a dull, non-reflective finish, the opposite of gloss. The sense of a lack of shine is the key to the whole family. A matte photograph, paint or metal surface scatters light instead of reflecting it, so "mattness" names the degree to which a surface avoids that glare. Its use is largely technical, appearing in discussions of paint, printing, photography and cosmetics, where manufacturers compare how flat or muted a finish is.

Synonyms: dullness, flatness

Antonyms: glossiness, shine