material entity material entity http://www.ifomis.org/bfo/1.1/snap#MaterialEntity material type An independent continuant that is spatially extended whose identity is independent of that of other entities and can be maintained through time. A material entity is an entity that exists in full during the length of time of its existence, persists through this time while maintaining its identity and has no temporal parts. For example a heart, a human, a fly, a microarray. An independent continuant that is spatially extended whose identity is independent of that of other entities and can be maintained through time. material entity James Malone An independent continuant that is spatially extended whose identity is independent of that of other entities and can be maintained through time. material entity