material

Noun · Adjective
Synonyms: stufffabricclothtextilecorporealsubstantialreal

WordNet 3.0

Noun (5)

  1. the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object“coal is a hard black material”“wheat is the stuff they use to make bread”Synonyms: stuff
  2. information (data or ideas or observations) that can be used or reworked into a finished form“the archives provided rich material for a definitive biography”
  3. artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers“the fabric in the curtains was light and semitransparent”“woven cloth originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BC”“she measured off enough material for a dress”Synonyms: fabricclothtextile
  4. things needed for doing or making something“writing materials”“useful teaching materials”
  5. a person judged suitable for admission or employment“he was university material”“she was vice-presidential material”

Adjective (6)

  1. concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests“material possessions”“material wealth”“material comforts”
  2. derived from or composed of matter“the material universe”
  3. directly relevant to a matter especially a law case“his support made a material difference”“evidence material to the issue at hand”“facts likely to influence the judgment are called material facts”“a material witness”
  4. concerned with or affecting physical as distinct from intellectual or psychological well-being“material needs”“the moral and material welfare of all good citizens — T.Roosevelt”
  5. having material or physical form or substance“that which is created is of necessity corporeal and visible and tangible — Benjamin Jowett”Synonyms: corporeal
  6. having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary“the substantial world”“a mere dream, neither substantial nor practical”“most ponderous and substantial things — Shakespeare”Synonyms: substantialreal
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Material \Ma*te"ri*al\, a. [L. materialis, fr. materia stuff, matter: cf. F. mat['e]riel. See Matter, and cf. Mat['e]riel.] [1913 Webster]

1.Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies. [1913 Webster]

The material elements of the universe.— Whewell.[1913 Webster]

2.Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of man, as distinguished from the mental or moral nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts; as, material well-being; material comforts. [1913 Webster]

3.Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of consequence; not be dispensed with; important; significant. [1913 Webster]

Discourse, which was always material, never trifling.— Evelyn.[1913 Webster]
I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose.— Locke.[1913 Webster]

4.(Logic.) Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See Matter. [1913 Webster]

Material cause. See under Cause.

Material evidence (Law), evidence which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis. --Wharton. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Corporeal; bodily; important; weighty; momentous; essential. [1913 Webster]

Material \Ma*te"ri*al\, v. t. To form from matter; to materialize. [Obs.] --Sir T. Browne. [1913 Webster]
Material \Ma*te"ri*al\, n. The substance or matter of which anything is made or may be made. [1913 Webster]

Raw material, any crude, unfinished, or elementary materials that are adapted to use only by processes of skilled labor. Cotton, wool, ore, logs, etc., are raw material. [1913 Webster]

The Devil's Dictionary

MATERIAL, adj. Having an actual existence, as distinguished from an imaginary one. Important.

Material things I know, or fell, or see; All else is immaterial to me. Jamrach Holobom

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