Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1300-1400
Language: Late Latin
Origin: materialis, from Latin materia; MATTER1

material

2 adjective
     
Related topics: Law
material2 W3 [usually before noun]
1 relating to your money, possessions, living conditions etc, rather than the needs of your mind or soul [≠ spiritual]
material goods/possessions/wealth etc
The spiritual life is more important than material possessions.
a society that places high importance on material rewards
2 relating to the real world and physical objects, rather than religious or spiritual things:
According to some, the material world is all that exists.
3 lawSCL important and needing to be considered when making a decision:
material evidence
material to
facts material to the investigation
4 formal important and having a noticeable effect:
material changes to the schedule
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary