Added 4 October 2026
material
/məˈtɪə.ɹi.əl/ adjective
In Latin: corporeus Wiktionary
adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about material at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Of, relating to, or consisting of matter, especially physical.
This compound has a number of interesting material properties.
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Of, relating to, or affecting physical well-being; corporeal; bodily.
material needs
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Of or relating to the matter of reasoning, as distinguished from the form of it, especially empirical.
material cause
noun
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Any 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.
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A person, or people collectively, who are qualified or suited for a certain position or activity.
boy/girlfriend material
- Apparatus for doing or making something.
verb
- To form from matter; to materialize.
Origin
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.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)