materials

materials — noun

1. the things, such as wood, metal, or plastic, that you use to build or make somet

1.名詞A2
釋義

the things, such as wood, metal, or plastic, that you use to build or make something

例句

Aarav chose strong materials so the treehouse would last for years.

noun as object of 'choose'

The factory turns raw materials like cotton and wool into warm blankets.

collocation: raw materials

同義詞
  • substances

    more scientific; focuses on the matter itself

  • components

    the separate parts that make up a whole

文法句型

raw materials

building materials

用法筆記

Often follows a describing word naming the purpose or origin, such as 'raw', 'building', or 'recycled'.

常見錯誤

❌The house is made of good material.
✅The house is made of good materials.
💡when several different substances go into something, use the plural.

2. the tools, equipment, or supplies that you need in order to do a particular job

2.名詞B1
釋義

the tools, equipment, or supplies that you need in order to do a particular job or activity

例句

The art teacher laid out paint, brushes, and other materials before class began.

materials for an activity

Mizuki packed all the camping materials into the back of the car.

同義詞
  • supplies

    items used up during a task, like paper or paint

  • equipment

    usually the reusable tools rather than things consumed

文法句型

materials for [activity]

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: here the focus is on equipment gathered for a task, not the substance an object is built from.

3. facts, notes, or ideas that someone collects and then shapes into a finished pie

3.名詞B2
釋義

facts, notes, or ideas that someone collects and then shapes into a finished piece of work

例句

Apinya gathered her research materials before she started writing the report.

collocation: research materials

The teacher shared reading materials about volcanoes with the whole class.

collocation: reading materials

同義詞
  • sources

    where the information comes from, rather than the information itself

  • data

    facts and figures, often numerical

文法句型

reading materials

source materials

用法筆記

Subject is usually information or content being prepared, not physical objects; common with 'reading', 'research', 'study', or 'source'.

4. cloth, woven or knitted from threads, that you use for clothes, curtains, and si

4.名詞B1
釋義

cloth, woven or knitted from threads, that you use for clothes, curtains, and similar things

例句

Zuri picked a soft blue material to make a summer dress.

describing word + material

The curtains were sewn from a heavy material that blocks the morning sun.

同義詞
  • fabric

    very close in meaning; slightly more formal

  • cloth

    the everyday word, often for a single piece

文法句型

a soft material

made of material

用法筆記

Often used in the singular ('a material', 'this material') even though the headword is plural; common in sewing and clothing contexts.

常見錯誤

❌She bought a beautiful fabric material.
✅She bought a beautiful material.
💡'fabric' and this sense of 'material' mean the same thing, so don't use both.

5. a person who has the right qualities to do or become a particular thing

5.名詞B2
釋義

a person who has the right qualities to do or become a particular thing

例句

Coaches agreed that young Felipe was true champion material.

noun + material for a suitable person

The manager said Adina was clearly leadership material after the project.

同義詞
  • candidate

    more neutral and formal; someone being considered

  • prospect

    someone likely to succeed in future

文法句型

[noun] + material

用法筆記

Always uncountable and follows a noun naming the role, as in 'champion material' or 'husband material'; informal and often used to judge potential.

materials — adjective