— materialness , n.
/meuh tear"ee euhl/ , n.
1. the substance or substances of which a thing is made or composed: Stone is a durable material.
2. anything that serves as crude or raw matter to be used or developed: Wood pulp is the raw material from which paper is made.
3. any constituent element.
4. a textile fabric: material for a dress.
5. 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.
6. materials , the articles or apparatus needed to make or do something: writing materials.
7. a person considered as having qualities suited to a particular sphere of activity: The boy's teachers did not think he was college material.
adj.
8. formed or consisting of matter; physical; corporeal: the material world.
9. relating to, concerned with, or involving matter: material forces.
10. pertaining to the physical rather than the spiritual or intellectual aspect of things: material comforts.
11. pertaining to or characterized by an undue interest in corporeal things; unspiritual.
12. of substantial import; of much consequence; important: Your support will make a material difference in the success of our program.
13. pertinent or essential (usually fol. by to ): a question not material to the subject at hand.
14. Law. likely to influence the determination of a case: material evidence.
15. Philos. of or pertaining to matter as distinguished from form.
[ 1300-50; ME materialis of, belonging to matter. See MATTER, -AL 1 ]
Syn. 1. See matter. 12. essential, vital.
Ant. 8. incorporeal. 12. unimportant.