starting material
nounUK /ˈstɑːtɪŋ məˈtɪəriəl/
US /ˈstɑːrtɪŋ məˈtɪriəl/
The stuff you begin with when you make something.
Flour is the starting material for making bread.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In chemistry, a substance that is changed into another substance during a reaction.
The starting material was heated until it turned into a new compound.
3. In manufacturing, the basic substance from which a product is made.
Steel is the starting material for many car parts.
4. In cooking, the first ingredients used before cooking begins.
The recipe lists the starting materials you need before you turn on the stove.