I. ma ‧ te ‧ ri ‧ al 1 S1 W1 /məˈtɪəriəl $ -ˈtɪr-/ BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ material , ↑ materialism , ↑ materialist , MATERIALS , ↑ materialization ; adjective : ↑ material , ↑ immaterial , ↑ materialistic , ↑ materialist ; adverb : ↑ materialistically , ↑ materially ; verb : ↑ materialize ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc SYN fabric :
curtain material
scraps of material
a cape made of a soft material
2 . [uncountable and countable] a solid substance such as wood, plastic, or metal:
materials like wood or stone
organic/plant material
Animals depend on plant material for food.
harmful radioactive material
a paper company which imports raw materials (=substances which have not been treated) from North America.
recycled material
3 . [uncountable] ( also materials [plural] ) the things that are used for making or doing something
reading/writing etc material(s)
Videos often make good teaching material.
a supply of building materials
artists’ materials
4 . [uncountable] information or ideas used in books, films etc:
His act contains a lot of new material.
material for
Anita is collecting material for a novel.
the raw material (=information that has not been carefully examined) for an article
5 . officer/executive etc material someone who is good enough for a particular job or position:
He’s a good soldier, but not really officer material.
• • •
THESAURUS
■ for making clothes etc
▪ material noun [uncountable and countable] cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc:
She bought some pretty dress material.
▪ fabric noun [uncountable] cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc:
Man-made fabrics such as polyester are easy to wash and iron.
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furnishing fabrics
▪ cloth noun [uncountable] woven material, especially material made from natural substances such as cotton and wool, which has not yet been made into any other products:
The main trade was the production of woollen cloth.
▪ textiles noun [plural] formal a general word for all types of cloth – used especially when talking about the business of producing and selling them:
Textiles are one of Mexico’s main exports.
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the textile industry
■ a solid or liquid substance
▪ material noun [uncountable and countable] a substance, especially one that can be used for making things:
building materials
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The island has to import oil and other raw materials (=materials used for making things) .
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radioactive material
▪ substance noun [countable] a type of material such as a chemical or a mineral:
The green colour of the leaf is due to a substance called chlorophyll.
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Dioxin is one of the most toxic substances known to man.
▪ matter noun [uncountable] formal a type of substance – used especially in the following phrases:
waste matter from the body
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It is important to add plenty of organic matter to the soil.
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People throw away lots of vegetable matter.
▪ stuff noun [uncountable] informal a substance - used especially when you do not know exactly what it is:
What’s that sticky stuff on the floor?
II. material 2 W3 BrE AmE adjective [usually before noun]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ material , ↑ materialism , ↑ materialist , MATERIALS , ↑ materialization ; adjective : ↑ material , ↑ immaterial , ↑ materialistic , ↑ materialist ; adverb : ↑ materialistically , ↑ materially ; verb : ↑ materialize ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Late Latin ; Origin: materialis , from Latin materia ; ⇨ ↑ matter 1 ]
1 . relating to your money, possessions, living conditions etc, rather than the needs of your mind or soul OPP spiritual
material goods/possessions/wealth etc
The spiritual life is more important than material possessions.
a society that places high importance on material rewards
2 . relating to the real world and physical objects, rather than religious or ↑ spiritual things OPP spiritual :
According to some, the material world is all that exists.
3 . law important and needing to be considered when making a decision OPP irrelevant :
material evidence
material to
facts material to the investigation
4 . formal important and having a noticeable effect OPP immaterial :
material changes to the schedule
⇨ ↑ materially