Material, a.
Etymology: [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 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.)
2 more senses
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.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Material, 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.
Material, v. t.
To form from matter; to materialize. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for material; he lists it under physical.
Where he writes about it:
Whatever is composed of or pertains to matter may be termed material; physical (Gr. physis, nature) applies to material things considered as parts of a system or organic whole; hence, we speak of material substances, physical forces, physical laws. — from physical