material

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   A substance that something is made from.

   Coal is a hard black material.

2. 2
   noun

   Things needed to do or make something.

   The students brought their writing materials to class.

3. 3
   noun

   Information or ideas used to create something.

   The archives provided rich material for a biography.

4. 4
   adj

   Relating to physical things or money rather than the mind or spirit.

   They valued material possessions above everything else.

5. 5
   adj

   Important and having a real effect on something.

   Your support made a material difference to the outcome.

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.

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