Definition

1. Verb:
   • To render immaterial or incorporeal: To cause something to lose its material or physical form; to make something non-physical or spiritual in nature.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • The magician seemed to immaterialise the coin right before our eyes. (He made the solid coin appear to vanish or become non-physical.)
  • Advanced theories in physics speculate about processes that could immaterialise matter. (Theories explore how physical matter might be converted into energy or information.)
  • The goal of the meditation was to immaterialise one's earthly concerns. (The aim was to make one's physical worries seem less real or substantial.)

Advanced Usage

• In philosophical or theological contexts: The term is often used to describe the transition from a physical to a spiritual state.
  • The ancient text describes a ritual to immaterialise the soul, freeing it from the body.
• In speculative fiction or fantasy: Commonly used to describe magical or advanced technological acts of making something vanish or become intangible.
  • The sci-fi device could immaterialise objects for transport.

Variants and Related Words

• Immaterialize (verb): The primary spelling variant, especially in American English. It has the same meaning.
• Immaterialisation/Immaterialization (noun): The act or process of making something immaterial.
  • The immaterialisation of the artifact was complete.
• Dematerialise (verb): A near-synonym meaning to lose or cause to lose material form. Often used in similar contexts.
  • The stock trading system allows shares to dematerialise.

Synonyms

• Etherealize: To make or become ethereal or delicate.
• Spiritualize: To imbue with a spiritual character.
• Vanish: To disappear from sight (a more general term for the common result of immaterialising).

Antonyms

• Materialise: To appear or cause to appear in physical form.
• Embody: To give a tangible or visible form to an idea or quality.
• Solidify: To make solid or firm.

Notes on Usage

• Formality: This is a formal, literary, or technical word. It is not common in everyday conversation.
• Transitivity: It is primarily a transitive verb (it takes a direct object: ).
• Context: Its use is almost always found in specialized discussions about metaphysics, spirituality, magic, or theoretical science.

Verb

1. render immaterial or incorporeal