mata Sense 1 noun English. One's eye. Example sentence: Subanen. Mesaiti matau, mabu' pulamata, pu' nda' mau dema mpuling. English. My eye hurts; it's probably pinkeye, for nothing got into my eye. Sense 2 English. That part of a plant which grows, the nucleus of a seed, or the inner growth bud of a growing palm, plant, tree or vine. Sense 3 English. The head of any boil-like lesion. verb English. Opens one's eyes.