material
3 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
materials
plural
materials
Britannica Dictionary definition of MATERIAL
1
a
:
a substance from which something is made or can be made
—
see also raw material
[count]
-
building materials
-
paper, plastic, or other materials
[noncount]
-
small pieces of material
-
hard material like stone
b
:
a substance that has a particular quality
[count]
-
a sticky material
-
explosive materials
[noncount]
2
:
something used in doing a particular activity
[count]
— usually plural
-
writing/reference materials
[noncount]
-
She was never without reading material.
3
[noncount]
:
cloth or fabric
-
The curtains required yards of expensive material.
4
[noncount]
:
information or ideas
-
He has been gathering material for a new biography.
-
The revised edition includes a large amount of new material.
-
The comedian gets his material from things that have happened to him.
5
[noncount]
:
a person who is suited to a particular position or job
-
Her boss regards her as executive material. [=as someone who would make a good executive]
-
My parents never felt that I was college material. [=that I was someone who should go to college]
2
material
/məˈtirijəl/
adjective
2
material
/məˈtirijəl/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of MATERIAL
1
always used before a noun
b
:
physical rather than spiritual or intellectual
-
He is concerned only with his own material comforts/needs.
-
material goods/possessions/rewards/wealth
2
formal
:
having real importance
— often + to
—
opposite immaterial
-
The researchers included all data that was material.
-
material facts
-
The evidence is not material [=relevant] to the case.
— materially
adverb-
The organization contributes materially to the efforts for peace.
-
a materially rich but spiritually poor culture
