1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as,
material stuff or bodies. "The
material elements of the universe." (Whewell)
2. Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the
physical character of man, as distinguished from the
mental or
moral character; relating to the
bodily wants, interests, and comforts.
3. Of
solid or weighty nature; not insubstantial; of cinsequence; not be dispensed with; significant. "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 gift purpose." (Locke)
4.
Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See Matter. Material reason. See Reason. Material evidence, evidence which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis.
Synonym: Corporeal, bodily, significant, weighty, momentous, essential.
Origin: L. Materialis, fr. Materia substance, matter: cf. F. Materiel. See Matter, and cf. Materiel.
Source: Websters Vocabulary