the substance or substances of which a thing is made or composed

Stone is a durable material.

anything that serves as crude or raw matter to be used or developed

Wood pulp is the raw material from which paper is made.

any constituent element.

a textile fabric

material for a dress.

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.

materials, the articles or apparatus needed to make or do something

writing materials.

a person considered as having qualities suited to a particular sphere of activity

The boy's teachers did not think he was college material.

formed or consisting of matter; physical; corporeal

the material world.

relating to, concerned with, or involving matter

material forces.

pertaining to the physical rather than the spiritual or intellectual aspect of things

material comforts.

pertaining to or characterized by an undue interest in corporeal things; unspiritual.

of substantial import; of much consequence; important

Your support will make a material difference in the success of our program.

pertinent or essential (usually fol. by to )

a question not material to the subject at hand.

Law . likely to influence the determination of a case

material evidence.

Philosophy . of or pertaining to matter as distinguished from form.

adjective

ethereal , incorporeal , intangible , mental , immaterial , irrelevant , unimportant , unsubstantial

adjective

actual , animal , appreciable , carnal , concrete , corporeal , earthly , fleshly , incarnate , nonspiritual , objective , palpable , perceptible , phenomenal , physical , real , sensible , sensual , substantial , true , worldlynotes:germane and relevant indicate pertinence to a matter , but may not be essential; material means pertinent and necessarymaterial is based on latin materialis \'formed of matter\'; materiel means \'personnel\' or \'military arms or equipment\' , ad rem , applicable , applicative , apposite , apropos , big , cardinal , consequential , considerable , essential , fundamental , germane , grave , indispensable , intrinsic , key , meaningful , momentous , pertinent , pointful , primary , serious , significant , vital , weightynotes:germane and relevant indicate pertinence to a matter , tangible , historic , large , monumental , banausic , bodily , bourgeois , faustian , important , materialistic , mechanical , philistine , ponderable , pragmatic , relevant , utilitarian

noun

being , body , bolt , cloth , component , constituent , crop , element , entity , equipment , gear , goods , habiliments , individual , ingredient , machinery , materiel , object , outfit , paraphernalia , staple , stock , stuff , substance , supply , tackle , textile , thingnotes:germane and relevant indicate pertinence to a matter , but may not be essential; material means pertinent and necessarymaterial is based on latin materialis \'formed of matter\'; materiel means \'personnel\' or \'military arms or equipment\' , data , evidence , facts , information , notes , reading , text , worknotes:germane and relevant indicate pertinence to a matter , matter , accouterment , apparatus , rig , thing , turnout , armamentarium , composite , corporeality , corporeity , fabric , linen , materiality , materialization , metal , physicality , plasma , reification , substantiality , tangibility , things , tool