Reading Theme:
Material: Definition, Usage & Key Differences (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：physical substance (material)
material
/məˈtɪəriəl/
n.
The physical stuff that something is made of, like wood, cloth, or metal.
physical substance
➕
/ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈsʌbstəns/
n.
Refers to the tangible, physical matter that constitutes an object, such as cloth, wood, plastic, or metal.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'materia', meaning 'matter' or 'substance'. Related to 'mater' (mother), hinting at a source or origin.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of 'matter' + 'rial' – it's all about the **matter** or stuff (physical or informational) things are made from.
📖 Example
She chose a soft, breathable material for her new summer dress.
She selected a soft, air-permeable fabric for her new summer dress.
🔗 Collocations
raw material – Basic, unprocessed substance used in manufacturing.
building material – Substance used in construction, like brick or concrete.
fabric/material – A type of cloth or textile.
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
immaterial (adj.) – Not composed of matter; unimportant or irrelevant.
🌱 Derivatives
materialism (n.) – A tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as most important.
materially (adv.) – In terms of physical substance or to a significant degree.
materialize (v.) – To become actual fact; to appear in physical form.
📖 Cultural Story
The word evolved from Latin 'materia', originally referring to timber or the stuff from which things are built. Its meaning broadened to encompass any physical substance and, later, abstract information used for creation.
Meaning 2：information (material)
material
/məˈtɪəriəl/
n.
Information, facts, or ideas that you collect and use for studying, research, or creating something.
information
➕
/ˌɪnfərˈmeɪʃən/
n.
Refers to collected data, facts, documents, or resources used for reference, study, or as a basis for creation.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
Our teacher shared a lot of useful online material to help us prepare for the history exam.
Our teacher provided many helpful online resources to aid our preparation for the history exam.
🔗 Collocations
study material – Resources like books or notes used for learning.
source material – Original documents or information used in research.
reading material – Something to read, such as books or articles.
🔄 Synonyms
information (n.) – Facts provided or learned about something.
data (n.) – Facts and statistics collected for reference or analysis.
resources (n.) – A stock or supply of materials or assets that can be drawn on.
Wordbook
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