The difference between Boy and Mate
When used as nouns, boy means a male child or teenager, as distinguished from infants or adults, whereas mate means a fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.
When used as verbs, boy means to use the word boy to refer to someone, whereas mate means to match, fit together without space between.
Boy is also interjection with the meaning: exclamation of surprise, pleasure or longing.
check bellow for the other definitions of Boy and Mate
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Boy as a noun:
A young male, particularly A male child or teenager, as distinguished from infants or adults.
Examples:
"Kate is dating a boy named Jim."
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Boy as a noun (diminutive):
A male child: a son of any age.
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Boy as a noun (affectionate, diminutive):
A male of any age, particularly one rather younger than the speaker.
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Boy as a noun (obsolete):
A male of low station, (especially as pejorative) a worthless male, a wretch; a mean and dishonest male, a knave.
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Boy as a noun (now, rare, and, usually, offensive, _, outside some Commonwealth nations):
A male servant, slave, assistant, or employee, particularly: A younger such worker. A non-white male servant regardless of age, particularly as a form of address. A male camp follower.
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Boy as a noun (now, offensive):
Any non-white male, regardless of age.
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Boy as a noun:
A male animal, especially, in affectionate address, a male dog.
Examples:
"C'mere, boy! Good boy! Who's a good boy?"
"Are you getting a boy cat or a girl cat?"
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Boy as a noun (historical, military):
A former low rank of various armed services; a holder of this rank.
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Boy as a noun (US, slang):
Heroin.
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Boy as a verb:
to use the word boy to refer to someone
Examples:
"Don't boy me!"
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Boy as a verb (transitive):
to act as a boy
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Mate as a noun:
A fellow, comrade, colleague, partner or someone with whom something is shared, e.g. shipmate, classmate.
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Mate as a noun (especially of a non-human [[animal]]):
A breeding partner.
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Mate as a noun (colloquial, British, Australia, New Zealand):
A friend, usually of the same sex.
Examples:
"I'm going to the pub with a few mates."
"He's my best mate."
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Mate as a noun (colloquial, British, Australia, New Zealand):
a colloquial "sir"; an informal and friendly term of address to a stranger, usually male, of similar age
Examples:
"Excuse me, mate, have you got the time?"
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Mate as a noun (nautical):
In naval ranks, a non-commissioned officer or his subordinate (e.g. , , Sailmaker's Mate, etc).
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Mate as a noun (nautical):
A ship's officer, subordinate to the master on a commercial ship.
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Mate as a noun (nautical):
A first mate.
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Mate as a noun:
A technical assistant in certain trades (e.g. gasfitter's mate, plumber's mate); sometimes an apprentice.
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Mate as a noun:
The other member of a matched pair of objects.
Examples:
"I found one of the socks I wanted to wear, but I couldn't find its mate."
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Mate as a noun:
A suitable companion; a match; an equal.
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Mate as a verb (intransitive):
To match, fit together without space between.
Examples:
"The pieces of the puzzle mate perfectly."
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Mate as a verb (intransitive):
To copulate.
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Mate as a verb (intransitive):
To pair in order to raise offspring
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Mate as a verb (transitive):
To arrange in matched pairs.
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Mate as a verb (transitive):
To introduce (animals) together for the purpose of breeding.
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Mate as a verb (transitive, of an animal):
To copulate with.
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Mate as a verb (transitive):
To marry; to match (a person).
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Mate as a verb (transitive):
To match oneself against; to oppose as equal; to compete with.
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Mate as a verb (transitive):
To fit (objects) together without space between.
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Mate as a verb (transitive, aerospace):
To move (a space shuttle orbiter) onto the back of an aircraft that can carry it.
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Mate as a noun (chess):
Short for checkmate.
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Mate as a verb (intransitive):
To win a game of chess by putting the opponent in checkmate
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Mate as a verb:
To confuse; to confound.
Examples:
"rfquotek Shakespeare"
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Mate as a noun:
, an aromatic tea-like drink prepared from the holly yerba maté ().
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Mate as a noun:
The abovementioned plant; the leaves and shoots used for the tea