mac

IPA/mæk/
KK[mˈæk]IPA/mæk/

mac — noun

  • macsingular
  • macsplural

1. a coat made from waterproof material that you wear to stay dry when it rains

1.nounB1
Definition

a coat made from waterproof material that you wear to stay dry when it rains

Example

Zola wore her old mac on the rainy walk to school.

countable noun with possessive 'her'

Ilan took his mac when the sky turned dark and cloudy.

Common collocations
  • wear a mac
  • put on a mac
  • take a mac
  • a lightweight mac
  • a waterproof mac
Synonyms
  • mackintosh

    the original full form of the word, less common in daily conversation

  • raincoat

    a general term for any waterproof coat; 'mac' specifically refers to a lighter, typically knee-length style

Grammar Patterns

a/the + mac

possessive + mac

Usage Note

More common in British English than American English. The full form 'mackintosh' is used less often in everyday speech.

Common Mistakes

Take your mac with you in the summer.
Take your mac with you in case it rains.
'mac' is for rain protection; using it for general sun weather sounds odd.

2. a casual way to call out to a male stranger whose name you have not been told

2.nounB2
Definition

a casual way to call out to a male stranger whose name you have not been told

Example

Hey, mac, do you know what time the next bus arrives?

interjection 'hey' + address term in sentence-initial position

Watch where you are going, mac, the old man said with a frown.

address term in sentence-final position

Common collocations
  • hey mac
  • listen mac
  • thanks mac
  • say mac
Synonyms
  • buddy

    equally informal but more common in American English

  • mate

    common in British and Australian English for addressing a stranger

Grammar Patterns

used at the start or end of a spoken sentence

Usage Note

Considered old-fashioned by many younger speakers. Can sound rude or overly familiar depending on tone. Typically used only by men addressing other men in informal settings.

Common Mistakes

Excuse me, mac, can you tell me where the library is?' (in formal context)
Use 'Excuse me, sir' in polite or formal situations.
'mac' is too casual for polite requests.

3. a brand of personal computer made by Apple that uses the macOS operating system

3.nounB1
Definition

a brand of personal computer made by Apple that uses the macOS operating system

Example

Quan uses a Mac for editing videos at his design studio.

indefinite article 'a' before brand name

The new Mac weighs much less than the old desktop model.

Common collocations
  • buy a Mac
  • use a Mac
  • Mac user
  • Mac laptop
  • Mac desktop
  • new Mac
  • old Mac
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • PC

    a computer running Windows rather than macOS

Grammar Patterns

a/the + Mac

Mac + noun (modifier)

possessive + Mac

Usage Note

Usually capitalised as a brand name. Frequently shortened further in compounds like 'MacBook', 'Mac mini'. Can be used as a countable noun (one Mac, two Macs).

Common Mistakes

I bought a new mac yesterday with the Apple logo.
I bought a new Mac yesterday with the Apple logo.
The computer sense should be capitalised 'Mac' to distinguish it from the raincoat.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

Among computers, 'Mac' refers specifically to Apple-branded machines running macOS, while 'PC' traditionally describes computers running Windows, though many now use 'PC' broadly for any non-Apple personal computer. 'Laptop' describes the physical form — a portable computer that sits on your lap — and can be either a Mac (MacBook) or a PC. 'Notebook' is a marketing term for a thin, lightweight laptop; MacBooks are often called notebooks in product descriptions. If someone says 'I need a new laptop,' they could mean any brand; if they say 'I need a new Mac,' they specifically want an Apple computer.

PC ↗laptop ↗notebook ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • pack a mac
  • switch to a Mac

Etymology

EnglishScottish GaelicIrish

The raincoat 'mac' is a shortened form of 'mackintosh', named after the Scottish chemist Charles Macintosh (1766–1843), who invented a method of making waterproof fabric by sealing two layers of cloth with rubber. The Apple 'Mac' comes from the name 'Macintosh', chosen by Apple employee Jef Raskin after his favourite apple variety, the McIntosh — spelled differently to avoid trademark conflict with a hi-fi equipment company. The address term 'mac' may come from Irish and Scottish surnames beginning with Mac- (meaning 'son of'), used in English slang to address an unnamed man.

First known use

1901

1901, in the meaning defined above Noun (2)