| mater | The "sheltering" coverings of the central nervous system. Origin: L. Mother (05 Mar 2000) |
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| materia | Substance or matter. Origin: L. Substance (05 Mar 2000) |
| materia alba | Accumulation or aggregation of microorganisms, desquamated epithelial cells, blood cells and food debris loosely adherent to surfaces of plaques, teeth, gingiva or dental appliances. Origin: L. White matter (05 Mar 2000) |
| materia medica | 1. Material or substance used in the composition of remedies; a general term for all substances used as curative agents in medicine. 2. That branch of medical science which treats of the nature and properties of all the substances that are employed for the cure of diseases. Origin: L. See Matter, and Medical. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| material | 1. Consisting of matter; not spiritual; corporeal; physical; as, material substance or bodies. "The material elements of the universe." (Whewell) 2. Hence: Pertaining to, or affecting, the physical nature of man, as distinguished from the mental or moral nature; relating to the bodily wants, interests, and comforts. 3. Of solid or weighty character; not insubstantial; of cinsequence; not be dispensed with; important. "Discourse, which was always material, never trifling." (Evelyn) "I shall, in the account of simple ideas, set down only such as are most material to our present purpose." (Locke) 4. <logic> Pertaining to the matter, as opposed to the form, of a thing. See Matter. Material cause. See Cause. Material evidence, evidence which conduces to the proof or disproof of a relevant hypothesis. Synonym: Corporeal, bodily, important, weighty, momentous, essential. Origin: L. Materialis, fr. Materia stuff, matter: cf. F. Materiel. See Matter, and cf. Materiel. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| materialise | 1. To invest wich material characteristics; to make perceptible to the senses; hence, to present to the mind through the medium of material objects. "Having wich wonderful art and beauty materialised, if I may so call it, a scheme of abstracted notions, and clothed the most nice, refined conceptions of philosophy in sensible images." (Tatler) 2. To regard as matter; to consider or explain by the laws or principles which are appropriate to matter. 3. To cause to assume a character appropriate to material things; to occupy with material interests; as, to materialise thought. 4. To make visable in, or as in, a material form; said of spirits. "A female spirit form temporarily materialised, and not distinguishable from a human being." (Epes Sargent) Origin: Cf. F. Materialiser. (27 Oct 1998) |
| materialism | 1. The doctrine of materialists; materialistic views and tenets. "The irregular fears of a future state had been supplanted by the materialism of Epicurus." (Buckminster) 2. The tendency to give undue importance to material interests; devotion to the material nature and its wants. 3. Material substances in the aggregate; matter. [Cf. F. Materialisme] (27 Oct 1998) |
| materialistical | Of or pertaining to materialism or materialists; of the nature of materialism. "But to me his very spiritualism seemed more materialistic than his physics." (C. Kingsley) Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| materials management, hospital | The management of all procurement, distribution, and storage of equipment and supplies, as well as logistics management including laundry, processing of reusables, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| materials recovery facility | A recycling facility for municipal solid waste. (05 Dec 1998) |
| materials testing | The testing of materials and devices, especially those used for implants, prostheses, sutures, adhesives, etc., for hardness, strength, durability, safety, and efficacy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| materiated | Consisting of matter. Origin: L. Materiatus, p. P. Of materiare to build of wood. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| materiation | Act of forming matter. Origin: L. Materiatio woodwork. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| materiel | That in a complex system which constitutes the materials, or instruments employed, in distinction from the personnel, or men; as, the baggage, munitions, provisions, etc, of an army; or the buildings, libraries, and apparatus of a college, in distinction from its officers. Origin: F. See Material. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| materies morbi | The substance acting as the immediate cause of a disease. Origin: L. The matter of disease (05 Mar 2000) |