material

ma•te•ri•al

[[t]məˈtɪər i əl[/t]] n.

1) cvb the substance of which something is made or composed

2) cvb something that serves as crude or raw matter to be used or developed

3) a constituent element

4) cvb a textile fabric

5) cvb ideas or facts that can provide the basis for or be incorporated into some work:

to gather material for a book[/ex]

6) materials, the articles or apparatus needed to make or do something:

writing materials[/ex]

7) cvb a person considered as suited to a particular sphere of activity:

college material[/ex]

8) formed or consisting of matter; physical; corporeal:

the material world[/ex]

9) relating to, concerned with, or involving matter:

material forces[/ex]

10) pertaining to the physical rather than the spiritual or intellectual aspect of things:

material comforts[/ex]

11) worldly; not spiritual

12) cvb important:

to make a material difference[/ex]

13) pertinent:

a material question[/ex]

14) law likely to influence the determination of a case:

material evidence[/ex]

15) pho of or pertaining to matter as distinguished from form

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Etymology: 1300–50; < LL māteriālis of, belonging to matter ma•te′ri•al•ly, adv. ma•te′ri•al•ness, n. syn: See matter