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material

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noun American English pronunciation: material /məˈtɪriəl/ 
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singularmaterial
pluralmaterials
  1. 1
    [countable/uncountable] cloth

    Her dress was made of a thin lacy material.

    heavy material for making curtains

  2. 2
    [uncountable] a substance, especially one used for a particular purpose

    Brick was used as the main building material for local churches.

    1. a.
      a substance, especially one that has a particular quality

      radioactive/organic material

      All waste material is recycled where possible.

  3. 3
    [uncountable] information, ideas, and experiences that you use as the subject of a book, movie, song, etc.

    Newspaper articles are a good source of material for stories.

    1. a.
      an entertainer's songs, jokes, etc

      The concert will include material from their new album.

  4. 4
    [countable/uncountable] documents, etc. that are used for a particular activity

    publicity material

    Professors are expected to furnish their own teaching materials.

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using the Internet where you work, during working hours, for activities which are not work-related

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