Children's, Intermediate and Advanced Online English Dictionary & Thesaurus

Comprehensive
Dictionary Suite
Help
Help
Help
 
   
Display options
Show syllables
Show Lookup History
Double-Click Lookup
  Show Spanish support
 
Pronunciation
Wordsmyth
  Phonics
  IPA
 
Entry formats
Standard
  Classic
   

ma·te·ri·al

material

pronunciation:
m ti ri l
parts of speech:
noun, adjective
part of speech: noun
definition 1: anything used for constructing or making something else.
synonyms:
stuff
similar words:
component, constituent, ingredient, matter, medium, raw material, substance
definition 2: cloth or fabric.
synonyms:
cloth, fabric, textile
similar words:
piece goods, tapestry, yard goods
definition 3: any group of ideas, sources, data, or the like that can be used to create a larger work.
material for my novel
synonyms:
data, documentation, fodder, statistics
similar words:
information, notes, raw material
 
part of speech: adjective
definition 1: important or relevant.
His presence made a material difference in the work.
synonyms:
important, significant, substantial, substantive
antonyms:
immaterial, irrelevant
similar words:
concrete, consequential, pertinent, profound, relevant, vital, weighty
definition 2: of or pertaining to the physical or tangible.
the material and spiritual realms
synonyms:
corporeal, earthly, physical, secular, temporal, worldly
antonyms:
immaterial, intangible, nonmaterial, spiritual
similar words:
carnal, concrete, mundane, palpable, phenomenal, substantive, tangible, terrestrial
definition 3: in law, relevant to the issues of a case.
similar words:
evidential, pertinent, relevant, to the point