Material Meaning
/məˈtɪə.ɹi.əl/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjOf, relating to, or consisting of matter, especially physical.
adjOf, relating to, or affecting physical well-being; corporeal; bodily.
Sentence Examples
It is best to review the material before the presentation.
This is an argument material to the question in hand.
The Romans were the first to utilize concrete as a building material.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
The engineer selected a strong and lightweight ____ to construct the airplane wings.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The dressmaker chose a soft silk ____ to create the elegant gown for the summer wedding.
Word Origin & History
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.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"the material elements of the universe"
— 1913, Alfred Bowyer Sharpe, Catholic Encyclopedia (1913)/Evil:
"discourse, which was always material, not trifling"
— 1685 March 19 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 10 March 1685]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC:
"I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose."
— 1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], chapter 2, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book I, page 3:
"'Cause we are living in a material world / And I am a material girl / You know that we are living in a material world / And I am a material girl"
— 1984, Peter Brown and Robert Rans, “Material Girl”, in Like a Virgin, performed by Madonna:
"In trumpets for assisting the hearing, all reverbation of the trumpet must be avoided. It must be made thick, of the least elastic materials, and covered with cloth externally. For all reverbation lasts for a short time, and produces new sounds which mix with those which are coming in."
— 1820, Encyclopaedia Britannica; Or A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature, 6th edition, volume 20, Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Company, page 501:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The engineer selected a strong and lightweight ____ to construct the airplane wings.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The dressmaker chose a soft silk ____ to create the elegant gown for the summer wedding.