material Definition

material
noun

1. Any substance out of which something is, or may be, made. See also raw material.

Thesaurus: substance, corporeality, element, matter, stuff, body.
2. Cloth; fabric.

Thesaurus: fabric, cloth, textile.
3. Instruments or tools needed for a particular activity or task.

Thesaurus: equipment,supplies, stock, stuff, accoutrements.
Form: materials
4. Information that provides the substance from which a book, TV programme, etc is prepared.
5. Someone who is suitable for a specified occupation, training, etc.

Example: He is management material

adj

1. Relating to or consisting of solid matter, physical objects, etc; not abstract or spiritual.

Example: suffered no material damage
Example: the material world
Thesaurus: palpable, corporeal, tangible, physical, real, actual, substantial, concrete, bodily, fleshly, worldly; Antonym: ethereal.
2. Relating to physical, as opposed to emotional, well-being or concerns.

Example: material comforts
3. technical
Important; significant; relevant. Compare immaterial.
Example: facts not material to the discussion
Thesaurus: essential, important, grave, germane, key, meaningful, pertinent, relevant, vital; Antonym: immaterial, irrelevant.
Form: material to something (usually)

Derivative: materially
adverb

Derivative: materialness
noun

Etymology: 14c as adjective: from Latin materialis, from materia matter.