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Ma*te"ri*al (?), a. [L.
materialis, fr. materia stuff, matter: cf. F.
matériel. See Matter, and cf.
MatÉriel.]
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 consequence; 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 under Cause.
-- Material evidence (Law), evidence
which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant
hypothesis. Wharton.
Syn. -- Corporeal; bodily; important; weighty; momentous;
essential.
Ma*te"ri*al, n. The substance or
matter of which anything is made or may be made.
Raw material, any crude, unfinished, or
elementary materials that are adapted to use only by processes of
skilled labor. Cotton, wool, ore, logs, etc., are raw
material.
Ma*te"ri*al, v. t. To form from
matter; to materialize. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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