Material — Defs

01 a. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies.

1.
Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies.
“The material elements of the universe.” — Whewell.
2.
Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of man, as distinguished from the mental or moral nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts; as, material well-being; material comforts.
3.
Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of consequence; not be dispensed with; important; significant.
“Discourse, which was always material, never trifling.” — Evelyn.

“I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose.” — Locke.
4.
Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See Matter.(Logic.) See: Matter

Phrases & compounds

Material cause — See under Cause.

Material evidence — evidence which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis.

Syn. Corporeal; bodily; important; weighty; momentous; essential.

02 n. The substance or matter of which anything is made or may be made.

1.
The substance or matter of which anything is made or may be made.

Phrases & compounds

Raw material — any crude, unfinished, or elementary materials that are adapted to use only by processes of skilled labor. Cotton, wool, ore, logs, etc., are raw material.

03 v. t. To form from matter; to materialize.

1.
To form from matter; to materialize.[Obs.]