Definition

Noun: * Substance for construction: A substance or product used in the process of constructing buildings, structures, or other edifices. This refers to the raw or manufactured components that form the physical fabric of a construction.

Usage

The term "building material" is a countable noun. It refers to any substance utilized in construction. It is commonly used with verbs like use, choose, source, transport, and test. * It is often preceded by adjectives describing the material's properties (e.g., durable, sustainable, traditional) or its type (e.g., wooden, masonry, composite). * It can be used in both singular and plural forms depending on whether one or multiple types of materials are being discussed.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Bricks and mortar are classic building materials.
  • The architect specified a sustainable building material for the exterior cladding.
  • The cost of building materials has increased significantly this year.
  • Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world.

Advanced Usage

• "Source of building materials": Refers to the origin or place from which construction substances are obtained.
  • The company prides itself on using locally sourced building materials.
• In technical and commercial contexts, "building material" often appears in compound nouns specifying a category, such as , , or .

Variants and Related Words

• Construction material: A direct synonym, often used interchangeably.
• Raw material: A broader term for any basic substance used to make goods, which may or may not be used for building.
• Fabric (in architectural context): Can poetically or technically refer to the materials making up a building's structure. (e.g., ).

Synonyms

• Construction material
• Structural material
• Fabric (context-specific)

Related Phrases

• Load-bearing material: A building material designed to carry the weight of the structure.
  • Steel beams are essential load-bearing building materials in skyscrapers.
• Finish material: A building material used for the visible, final surfaces.
  • Marble is a luxurious finish building material for floors and countertops.

Noun

1. material used for constructing buildings