\Ma*te"ri*al\, a. [L. materialis, fr. materia stuff,
matter: cf. F. mat['e]riel. See {Matter}, and cf.
{Mat['E]riel}.]
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 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.