material definition

1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies. "The material elements of the universe." (Whewell)

2. Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of man, as distinguished from the mental or moral nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts.

3. Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of cinsequence; not be dispensed with; important. "Discourse, which was always material, never trifling." (Evelyn) "I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose." (Locke)

4. <logic> Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See Matter. Material cause. See Cause. Material evidence, evidence which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis.

Synonyms: Corporeal, bodily, important, weighty, momentous, essential.

Origin: L. Materialis, fr. Materia stuff, matter: cf. F. Materiel. See Matter, and cf. Materiel.