material

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   Of, relating to, or consisting of matter, especially physical.

   • This compound has a number of interesting material properties.
   • the material elements of the universe
2. 2

   Of, relating to, or affecting physical well-being

   Of, relating to, or affecting physical well-being; corporeal; bodily.

   • material needs
3. 3

   Of or relating to the matter of reasoning, as distinguished from the form of it,…

   Of or relating to the matter of reasoning, as distinguished from the form of it, especially empirical.

   • material cause
   • the material aspect of being
4. ›+ 16 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Having real importance or great consequences

      Having real importance or great consequences; significant; substantial.

      • found a material difference between two things
      • You've made several material contributions to this project.
      • This is the most material fact in this lawsuit.
   2. 5

      Relating to or concerned with what is purely physical rather than intellectual or…

      Relating to or concerned with what is purely physical rather than intellectual or spiritual, especially excessively so; materialistic.

      • the material world
      • interested only in material progress
      • Don't let material concerns get in the way of living a happy life.
   3. 6

      Full of substance or otherwise meaning.

   4. 7

      In an important degree.

   5. 8

      A basic matter (as metal, wood, plastic, fiber, etc.) from which the whole or the greater…

      A basic matter (as metal, wood, plastic, fiber, etc.) from which the whole or the greater part of something physical (as a machine, tool, building, fabric, etc.) is made.

      • Asphalt, composed of oil and sand, is a widely used material for roads.
   6. 9

      A person, or people collectively, who are qualified or suited for a certain position or…

      A person, or people collectively, who are qualified or suited for a certain position or activity.

      • boy/girlfriend material
      • marriage material
      • We have lots of presidential material in various public offices.
   7. 10

      Apparatus for doing or making something.

      • Where we once sent love letters in a sealed envelope, or stuck photographs of our children in a family album, now such private material is despatched to servers and clouds operated by people we don't know and will never meet.
   8. 11

      Something (as data, observations, perceptions or ideas) that may be incorporated,…

      Something (as data, observations, perceptions or ideas) that may be incorporated, elaborated or otherwise reworked into a finished form or new form, or may serve as the basis for arriving at interpretations, judgments or conclusions.

      • teaching materials
      • We were a warm-up act at the time; we didn't have enough original material to headline.
   9. 12

      Fabric, which can be made into a garments, curtains, etc

      Fabric, which can be made into a garments, curtains, etc; especially, woven fabric (cloth).

      • a piece of material
      • You'll need about a yard of material to make this.
      • Mind you, clothes were clothes in those days. There was a great deal of them, lavish both in material and in workmanship.
   10. 13

       The elements, constituents or substance of which something physical or non-physical…

       The elements, constituents or substance of which something physical or non-physical composed of or can be made of.

       • The solid materials of the mixture will settle to the bottom of the container.
       • The material of his character was basically good.
       • […] I beleeve that as they ſay of the materialls of the world, they would ſoone diſolve if the ſoule of it were taken away […]
   11. 14

       An element of a design language associated with a certain style of rendering on the…

       An element of a design language associated with a certain style of rendering on the display.

   12. 15

       All of a player's pieces and pawns on the chessboard, excluding the king.

   13. 16

       The ingredients for making whisky punch.

   14. 17

       The materiel of an army.

   15. 18

       Things that are material.

   16. 19

       To form from matter

       To form from matter; to materialize.

       • I believe that the whole frame of a beast doth perish, and is left in the same state after death as before it was materialled unto life.

The neighborhood

• synonymmaterial
• neighbormatter
• neighbormateriel
• neighborsubstantial
• neighborfor material's use as an adjective
• neighboradobe
• neighborbrick
• neighborcement
• neighborchemical substance
• neighborclay
• neighborcomposite
• neighborconcrete
• neighborfabric