Material vs. Stuff

Material vs. Stuff — Is There a Difference?
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Difference Between Material and Stuff

Materialadjective

Having to do with matter; consisting of matter.

This compound has a number of interesting material properties.

Stuffnoun

(informal) Miscellaneous items or objects; (with possessive) personal effects.

What is all that stuff on your bedroom floor?He didn't want his pockets to bulge so he was walking around with all his stuff in his hands.

Materialadjective

Worldly, as opposed to spiritual.

Don't let material concerns get in the way of living a happy life.

Stuffnoun

(informal) Unspecified things or matters; trivial details.

I had to do some stuff.

Materialadjective

Significant.

You've made several material contributions to this project.This is the most material fact in this lawsuit.

Stuffnoun

The tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object.

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Materialnoun

Matter which may be shaped or manipulated, particularly in making something.

Asphalt, composed of oil and sand, is a widely used material for roads.

Stuffnoun

(archaic) A material for making clothing; any woven textile, but especially a woollen fabric.

Materialnoun

Text written for a specific purpose.

We were a warm-up act at the time; we didn't have enough original material to headline.

Stuffnoun

Abstract substance or character.

Materialnoun

A sample or specimens for study.

Stuffnoun

(informal) Used as placeholder, usually for material of unknown type or name.

Can I have some of that stuff on my ice-cream sundae?
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Materialnoun

Cloth to be made into a garment.

You'll need about a yard of material to make this.

Stuffnoun

(slang) Narcotic drugs, especially heroin.

Materialnoun

The people collectively who are qualified for a certain position or activity.

John Doe is a great governor, and I also believe he is presidential material.He is not the only one. I believe we have lots of presidential material in various public offices.

Stuffnoun

Furniture; goods; domestic vessels or utensils.

Materialnoun

Related data of various kinds, especially if collected as the basis for a document or book.

Stuffnoun

(obsolete) A medicine or mixture; a potion.

Materialnoun

The substance that something is made or composed of.

Stuffnoun

(obsolete) Refuse or worthless matter; hence, also, foolish or irrational language; nonsense; trash.

Materialverb

To form from matter; to materialize.

Stuffnoun

(nautical) A melted mass of turpentine, tallow, etc., with which the masts, sides, and bottom of a ship are smeared for lubrication.

Materialnoun

the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object;

coal is a hard black materialwheat is the stuff they use to make bread

Stuffnoun

Paper stock ground ready for use. When partly ground, it is called half stuff.

Materialnoun

information (data or ideas or observations) that can be used or reworked into a finished form;

the archives provided rich material for a definitive biography

Stuffverb

(transitive) To fill by crowding something into; to cram with something; to load to excess.

She stuffed the turkey for Thanksgiving using her secret stuffing recipe.

Materialnoun

things needed for doing or making something;

writing materialsuseful teaching materials

Stuffverb

(transitive) To fill a space with (something) in a compressed manner.

He stuffed his clothes into the closet and shut the door.

Materialnoun

artifact made by weaving or felting or knitting or crocheting natural or synthetic fibers;

the fabric in the curtains was light and semitraqnsparentwoven cloth originated in Mesopotamia around 5000 BCshe measured off enough material for a dress

Stuffverb

(transitive) To load goods into (a container) for transport.

Materialnoun

a person judged suitable for admission or employment;

he was university materialshe was vice-presidential material

Stuffverb

To sate.

I’m stuffed after having eaten all that turkey, mashed potatoes and delicious stuffing.

Materialadjective

concerned with worldly rather than spiritual interests;

material possessionsmaterial wealthmaterial comforts

Stuffverb

To break. en

Materialadjective

derived from or composed of matter;

the material universe

Stuffverb

To sexually penetrate. en

Materialadjective

directly relevant to a matter especially a law case;

his support made a material differenceevidence material to the issue at handfacts likely to influence the judgment are called material factsa material witness

Stuffverb

See also stuff it.

Stuff your stupid rules, I'll do what I like.

Materialadjective

concerned with or affecting physical as distinct from intellectual or psychological well-being;

material needsthe moral and material welfare of all good citizens

Stuffverb

(transitive) To cut off another competitor in a race by disturbing his projected and committed racing line (trajectory) by an abrupt manoeuvre.

I got stuffed by that guy on the supermoto going into that turn, almost causing us to crash.

Materialadjective

having material or physical form or substance;

that which is created is of necessity corporeal and visible and tangible

Stuffverb

To preserve a dead bird or other animal by filling its skin.

Materialadjective

having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary;

the substantial worlda mere dream, neither substantial nor practicalmost ponderous and substantial things

Stuffverb

(transitive) To obstruct, as any of the organs; to affect with some obstruction in the organs of sense or respiration.

Stuffverb

(transitive) To form or fashion by packing with the necessary material.

Stuffverb

To crowd with facts; to cram the mind of; sometimes, to crowd or fill with false or idle tales or fancies.

Stuffverb

To compress (a file or files) in the StuffIt format, to be unstuffed later.

Stuffverb

(pronominal) To eat, especially in a hearty or greedy manner.

Stuffinterjection

(slang) A filler term used to dismiss explanation.

Why are you so sad, Joseph? – Well… stuff.

Stuffnoun

the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object;

coal is a hard black materialwheat is the stuff they use to make bread

Stuffnoun

miscellaneous unspecified objects;

the trunk was full of stuff

Stuffnoun

informal terms for personal possessions;

did you take all your clobber?

Stuffnoun

senseless talk;

don't give me that stuff

Stuffnoun

unspecified qualities required to do or be something;

the stuff of herosyou don't have the stuff to be a United States Marine

Stuffnoun

information in some unspecified form;

it was stuff I had heard beforethere's good stuff in that book

Stuffnoun

a critically important or characteristic component;

suspense is the very stuff of narrative

Stuffverb

fill completely;

The child stuffed his pockets with candy

Stuffverb

press or force;

Stuff money into an envelopeShe thrust the letter into his hand

Stuffverb

obstruct;

My nose is all stuffedHer arteries are blocked

Stuffverb

overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself;

She stuffed herself at the dinnerThe kids binged on icecream

Stuffverb

treat with grease, fill, and prepare for mounting;

stuff a bearskin

Stuffverb

fill tightly with a material;

stuff a pillow with feathersThe old lady wants to have her dead poodle stuffed by the taxidermist

Stuffverb

fill with a stuffing while cooking;

Have you stuffed the turkey yet?