Definition

Noun: - Material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing: A basic substance in its natural, unprocessed, or minimally processed state, used as an input for industrial production or further processing to create finished goods.

Usage

The term "raw material" is used to describe the fundamental substances from which products are made. It is a countable noun, often used in the plural form "raw materials." It is central to discussions of industry, manufacturing, economics, and supply chains.

Examples

• Noun:
  • Iron ore is a key raw material for the steel industry.
  • The factory imports its raw materials from several different countries.
  • Wood is the primary raw material for making paper.

Advanced Usage

• "raw material for": Used to specify the end product or process.
  • Crude oil is the essential raw material for producing gasoline and plastics.
• "source of raw materials": Refers to the origin of the basic substances.
  • The region is a rich source of raw materials like copper and lithium.

Variants and Related Words

• Feedstock (n): A specific type of raw material supplied to a machine or processing plant. Often used in chemical and industrial contexts.
  • Natural gas is a common feedstock for fertilizer production.
• Commodity (n): A raw material or primary agricultural product that can be bought and sold, such as copper, coffee, or wheat. This term emphasizes the trade and economic aspect.
  • The price of agricultural commodities fluctuates on the global market.

Synonyms

• Resource: A stock or supply of materials that can be drawn upon.
• Primary product: A product that is extracted or harvested and requires processing.

Related Phrases

• Raw material costs: The expenses associated with purchasing basic inputs for production.
  • Rising raw material costs are squeezing manufacturers' profits.
• Raw material extraction: The process of obtaining natural resources from the earth.
  • Raw material extraction can have significant environmental impacts.

Related Idioms

• "The raw material of": Used metaphorically to describe the basic elements from which something abstract is formed.
  • Personal experiences are often the raw material of great novels.
  • Data is the raw material of the information age.

Noun

1. material suitable for manufacture or use or finishing