Dictionary  ma•te•ri•alPronunciation: (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.
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