Definition of "place mat" [place mat]

• A protective table mat for a single setting of dishes and flatware. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Siv set out a tray, put a nice place mat on it, got a new napkin from the cupboard -- she wanted the old woman to enjoy her first meal after the high fever she had had."