Definition of: material

(mə·tir′ē·əl) noun
1. That of which anything is composed or may be constructed; matter considered as a component part of something.
2. Collected facts, impressions, ideas, or notes containing them, and sketches, etc., that may be used in completing a literary or an artistic production.
3. Matter regarded as the amorphous substratum of reality.
4. The tools, instruments, articles, etc., for doing something. See also MATERIEL.
5. A cloth or fabric.
—adjective
1. Pertaining to matter; having a corporeal existence; physical.
2. Pertaining to matter in a corporeal relation; affecting the physical nature; also, pertaining to the body or the appetites; corporeal; sensuous; sensual.
3. Pertaining to the subject matter; essential; important.
4. Pertaining to matter as opposed to form.
5. Consisting of, relating to, or composed of matter regarded as the primary substance of the physical universe.
6. Replete with matter or good sense. See synonyms under IMPORTANT, PHYSICAL. [<LL materialis <L materia matter, stuff]