n (1)材(原)料(anything out of which sth is or may be made)[C，U]：cleaning/building/natural/raw/explosive～s 清洁材料/建筑材料/天然材料/原料/爆炸物;an elastic～有弹性的材料;solid/fairly strong～s 坚固/很硬的材料;have a supply of all necessary～s 所有必需的材料都供应充足;Hemp is often used as～for ropes大麻常用于制绳。Flex is often used as～for making linen.亚麻常用于纺织亚麻制品。be an officer～(fig) 当军官的材料;She's not a teacher～.(fig) 她不是当教师的材料。

(2)布，织物，料子(cloth or fabric)[U，C]：dress/woolen/cotton/synthetic～衣料/毛料/棉布/合成织物;The sleeping bags are made of cotton and acrylic～s. 睡袋是用棉和丙烯酸材料做成的。〖同〗fabric，cloth;

(3)素材，资料(ideas or information that can be used as a basis for books，plays or films)[U]：find some～for writing articles 找到一些写文章的素材;collect a lot of～for the new evaluation of the theory搜集许多重新评价这一理论的材料;The book provides much～for thought.这本书有许多内容发人深思。〖同〗facts，notes;

(4)(某一活动所需的)材料(things that are needed for a particular activity)[C， usu pl， U]： teaching～s 教材; reading～s 阅读材料;

adj (1)物质的(of or concerning matter or substance;not spirit)[无comp][作attrib]：the～world/resources/civilization/damage物质世界/资源/文明/破坏;What do we know of the～universe? 对物质世界我们了解什么?〖同〗physical，substantial;〖反〗non-material，spiritual;

(2)物质享受(referring to things that provide physical comfort)[无comp] [作attrib]：the～comforts/delights物质享受/物质享乐;the～necessities/possessions/needs 物质需求/物质拥有/物质需要(衣、食等);She did it not for～gain but for spiritual satisfaction.她做这件事并非为了物质需要，而是追求精神上的满足。

(3)重(必)要的(essential or important)[A(to)]：～facts有关事实;a～improvement重大改进;a～witness 重要证人;(make)a～correction(作出)实质的更正;discuss only the most～matter仅讨论最重要的问题;the evidence that is～to one's defense为自己辩护的重要证据;The money will be～to the people who lose their jobs. 该资金对失业者是必需的。He made a～contribution to the work.他为工作做出了重大贡献。〖同〗significant，important，essential，vital，substantial;〖反〗insignificant，unimportant，unessential，unsubstantial;

→ma′terially adv重大(实质性)地;ma′terialize，-ise v 使物质化;实现;͵materiali′zation，-isation n 实现，具体化;ma′terialism n 唯物主义;ma′terialist n唯物主义者;adj 唯物主义的;

【辨异】material，matter，substance均指构成或制成某物的材料。material 主要指物质成分，特别是做东西的成分，如：a cake made from best materials(用最好的原料做的蛋糕);matter指所占有的空间，由物质构成的东西，如：Matter is a form of energy.(物质是一种能量形式。)We and the universe about us are matter.(我们与我们周围的宇宙都是物质构成的。)substance 通常指某种物质的化学成分和物理性能已为人们所认识，如：hard substance(硬物质);gaseous substances (气体(物质));an object of mixture of different substances(不同物质的混合体)。