Dictionary
ma•te•ri•al
Pronunciation: (mu-tēr'ē-ul), [key]—
n.
1. the substance or substances of which a thing is made or composed:
Stone is a durable material.
2. anything that serves as crude or raw matter to be used or developed:
Wood pulp is the raw material from which paper is made.
3. any constituent element.
4. a textile fabric:
material for a dress.
5. a group of ideas, facts, data, etc., that may provide the basis for or be incorporated into some integrated work:
to gather material for a history of North Carolina; to write material for a comedy show.
6. materials, the articles or apparatus needed to make or do something:
writing materials.
7. a person considered as having qualities suited to a particular sphere of activity:
The boy's teachers did not think he was college material.
—
adj.
1. formed or consisting of matter; physical; corporeal:
the material world.
2. relating to, concerned with, or involving matter:
material forces.
3. pertaining to the physical rather than the spiritual or intellectual aspect of things:
material comforts.
4. pertaining to or characterized by an undue interest in corporeal things; unspiritual.
5. of substantial import; of much consequence; important:
Your support will make a material difference in the success of our program.
6. pertinent or essential (usually fol. by
to):
a question not material to the subject at hand.
7. Law.likely to influence the determination of a case:
material evidence.
8. Philos.of or pertaining to matter as distinguished from form.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
