material

/məˈtɪəriəl/ (bre, ipa) · /məˈtɪriəl/ (ame, ipa) · /mə-ˈtir-ē-əl/ (ame, mw) · /məˈtɪə.ri.əl/ (bre, ipa) · /məˈtɪr.i.əl/ (ame, ipa)

material — noun

  • materialsingular
  • materialsplural

1. A physical substance from which objects can be made, such as wood, metal, plasti

1.名詞A2
釋義

A physical substance from which objects can be made, such as wood, metal, plastic, or stone.

例句

Wood is a common material used for building houses and furniture.

countable: a material / materials

The factory needs to order more raw materials before production can begin.

common collocation: raw materials

同義詞
  • substance

    broader; can refer to any matter without implying it is used for making things

  • matter

    more scientific; refers to what things are made of at a physical or chemical level

  • stuff

    informal; a vague term for any substance or collection of things

文法句型

material (for [purpose])

[adjective] material

用法筆記

This sense can be used as both countable and uncountable: 'a material' refers to one specific type, while 'some material' refers to an amount without specifying type.

常見錯誤

❌I need a material to build a shelf' (when the type is not important).
✅I need some material to build a shelf
💡when the specific type is irrelevant, use the uncountable form.

2. Facts, observations, and ideas that people gather and shape into a completed wor

2.名詞B1
釋義

Facts, observations, and ideas that people gather and shape into a completed work — for instance, a book, a research report, a speech, or a stage show.

例句

Hari spent weeks collecting material for his research paper on ocean pollution.

uncountable: material for [purpose]

The comedian used everyday life as material for his stand-up show.

pattern: [source] as material for [output]

同義詞
  • data

    more technical; refers specifically to facts and statistics rather than ideas

  • content

    broader; can include images, videos, and other media forms

  • source

    focuses on the origin of the information rather than the information itself

文法句型

material on [topic]

material for [purpose]

source material

reference material

用法筆記

In this sense, 'material' is always uncountable — do not say 'materials' when referring to information or content. The plural form is only possible when referring to multiple collections of source data from different domains.

常見錯誤

❌I need to find materials for my presentation.
✅I need to find material for my presentation.
💡in this sense, 'material' is uncountable even when referring to multiple pieces of information.

3. Woven or knitted textile fibres, including cotton, silk, and wool, that people s

3.名詞B1
釋義

Woven or knitted textile fibres, including cotton, silk, and wool, that people sew into garments, window coverings, and other household items.

例句

Valentina bought two metres of cotton material to make a summer dress.

uncountable amount: [measurement] of material

This material feels soft against the skin, perfect for baby clothes.

同義詞
  • fabric

    more formal or technical; preferred in fashion and textile industries

  • cloth

    more common for smaller pieces; a cloth can be a finished piece like a dishcloth

  • textile

    industry term; refers to any woven material, often in manufacturing contexts

文法句型

[amount] of material

[adjective] material

用法筆記

'Material' and 'fabric' can often be used interchangeably in this sense. 'Cloth' is more common when referring to smaller pieces or specific types by name (e.g., 'a cotton cloth' rather than 'a cotton material').

常見錯誤

❌I bought a material to make a dress.
✅I bought some material to make a dress.
💡when referring to cloth, 'material' is typically uncountable.

4. The tools, equipment, or supplies needed for a specific job, hobby, or education

4.名詞B2
釋義

The tools, equipment, or supplies needed for a specific job, hobby, or educational activity.

例句

The art teacher asked the students to bring their own drawing materials to class.

often plural: materials for [activity]

The construction site has run out of basic building materials like cement and bricks.

collocation: building materials

同義詞
  • supplies

    emphasises consumable items that need regular replacement

  • equipment

    more general; can include large tools and machinery

  • resources

    broader; can include non-physical items like time and personnel

文法句型

materials for [activity]

[subject] materials

用法筆記

In this sense, the plural form 'materials' is very common, even when referring to a group of items for one activity. Unlike sense 2 (INFORMATION), this sense freely takes the plural.

常見錯誤

❌I forgot my painting material at home.
✅I forgot my painting materials at home.
💡for equipment and supplies, the plural form is standard.

5. A person who has the right qualities, skills, or experience for a particular job

5.名詞B2
釋義

A person who has the right qualities, skills, or experience for a particular job, position, or activity — for example, someone described as 'managerial material' or 'college material'.

例句

Tunde showed early talent and was clearly officer material in the army.

pattern: [role] material — describes natural suitability

With her determination and quick thinking, Kemi is excellent management material.

同義詞
  • candidate

    more formal; refers to someone being considered, not necessarily naturally suited

  • timber

    British English; similar idiom 'management timber' but less common

文法句型

[role] material

material for [role]

用法筆記

This sense follows a fixed idiomatic pattern: a noun that names the role or opportunity comes before 'material' (e.g., 'management material', 'college material'). It rarely appears in other grammatical arrangements.

常見錯誤

❌He is a material for manager.
✅He is manager material.
💡the idiomatic pattern uses '[role] material' without articles.

material — adjective