On the top is the Wikipedia definition of a matter painting, and on the bottom is a definition found from a booklet about matte paintings. In these two definitions, there are similarities and differences.
The similarities of the two definitions is that they both talk about how they are used to replace the existing background or to make it more suitable for the scene. Therefore, we can learn from both definitions that a matte painting creates an 'environment' in a 'landscape, set or distant location' instead of 'building a set or carting into a mountain range' by 'painting on the [matte painting] glass on location'.
The differences of the two definitions is that the definition in the booklet talks a lot about what matte paintings are, whereas the Wikipedia definition talks more about what matte paintings do. For example, the booklet says that a matte painting is 'the section of the filmed images that is blocked out or matted out. A sheet of glass placed between the camera and the scene filmed.', whereas the Wikipedia says that matte paintings 'allow film makers to create the illusion of an environment.'. So, if you only look at one definition, you don't find out all the key information about matte paintings, only half of it - so you have to look at the other definition to find out the other key parts about a matte painting.
Bringing together both definitions, I would define a matte painting as a 'sheet of glass placed between the camera and the scene filmed that creates an environment, set or distant location that is non-existent in real life or would otherwise be too impossible or expensive to replace the original scene background.'
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