material

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   derived from or composed of matter

   the material universe

2. 2
   adj

   directly relevant to a matter especially a law case

   Your support made a material difference.

3. 3
   adj

   concerned with or affecting physical as distinct from intellectual or psychological well-being

   material needs

4. 4
   adj

   concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests

   material possessions

5. 5
   noun

   things needed for doing or making something

   writing materials

6. 6
   noun

   information (data or ideas or observations) that can be used or reworked into a finished form

   the archives provided rich material for a definitive biography

7. 7
   noun

   a person judged suitable for admission or employment

   I was university material.

8. 8
   noun

   the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

   coal is a hard black material

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.