Matriculate means to enroll as a student, especially in higher education. For example, a student might matriculate at a design school or a college could matriculate a thousand new students. Some students choose to take a gap year before matriculating in college. The term "alma mater" also relates to schooling, meaning "fostering mother." While "mater" clearly means "mother," the connection between "matriculate" and a nurturing mother figure is misleading. Although distantly related to the Latin word "mater," the maternal association of "matriculate" was lost long ago. Its more direct origin is the Late Latin word "matricula," meaning "public roll or register." This highlights its connection to enrollment rather than mothering. "Matricula" itself is a diminutive of the Latin noun "matrix." In Late Latin, "matrix" also meant "list" or "register," but earlier referred to female breeding animals.