fabric

When referring to cloth, 'fabric' is often used as an uncountable noun (e.g., "How much fabric do we need?"), though it can be countable when talking about different types of materials. In the metaphorical sense—referring to society or a system—it is almost always singular and used to describe something that holds everything together. When discussing buildings, 'fabric' refers to the actual physical materials (walls, roof, floors) rather than the design or interior decoration.