material

adjective

made of a physical substance
important to a discussion

L4194 on Wikidata ↗

noun

substance that can occur in different amounts, all with some similar [mixture of some] characteristics, and of which objects can be made up

L4195 on Wikidata ↗

Wiktionary

Pronunciation: /məˈtɪə.ɹi.əl/ / /məˈtɪɹ.i.əl/

adj

Etymology: From Middle English material, from Late Latin māteriālis, from Latin māteria (“wood, material, substance”), from māter (“mother”). Displaced native Middle English andweorc, andwork (“material, matter”) (from Old English andweorc (“matter, substance, material”)). Doublet of materiel.

Of, relating to, or consisting of matter, especially physical.
“This compound has a number of interesting material properties.”
“the material elements of the universe”
Of, relating to, or affecting physical well-being; corporeal; bodily.
“material needs”
Of or relating to the matter of reasoning, as distinguished from the form of it, especially empirical.
“material cause”
“the material aspect of being”
Having real importance or great consequences; significant; substantial.
“found a material difference between two things”
“You've made several material contributions to this project.”
Relating to or concerned with what is purely physical rather than intellectual or spiritual, especially excessively so; materialistic.
“the material world”
“interested only in material progress”
Full of substance or otherwise meaning.
In an important degree.

noun

A basic matter (as metal, wood, plastic, fiber, etc.) from which the whole or the greater part of something physical (as a machine, tool, building, fabric, etc.) is made.
“Asphalt, composed of oil and sand, is a widely used material for roads.”
“In trumpets for assisting the hearing, all reverbation of the trumpet must be avoided. It must be made thick, of the least elastic materials, and covered with cloth externally. For all reverbation lasts for a short time, and produces new sounds which mix with those which are coming in.”
A person, or people collectively, who are qualified or suited for a certain position or activity.
“boy/girlfriend material”
“marriage material”
Apparatus for doing or making something.
“Where we once sent love letters in a sealed envelope, or stuck photographs of our children in a family album, now such private material is despatched to servers and clouds operated by people we don't know and will never meet.”
Something (as data, observations, perceptions or ideas) that may be incorporated, elaborated or otherwise reworked into a finished form or new form, or may serve as the basis for arriving at interpretations, judgments or conclusions.
“teaching materials”
“We were a warm-up act at the time; we didn't have enough original material to headline.”
Fabric, which can be made into a garments, curtains, etc; especially, woven fabric (cloth).
“a piece of material”
“You'll need about a yard of material to make this.”
The elements, constituents or substance of which something physical or non-physical composed of or can be made of.
“The solid materials of the mixture will settle to the bottom of the container.”
“The material of his character was basically good.”
An element of a design language associated with a certain style of rendering on the display.
All of a player's pieces and pawns on the chessboard, excluding the king.
The ingredients for making whisky punch.
The materiel of an army.
Things that are material.

verb

To form from matter; to materialize.
“I believe that the whole frame of a beast doth perish, and is left in the same state after death as before it was materialled unto life.”