SUBSTANCE

substance

(noun) the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists; “DNA is the substance of our genes”

substance

(noun) a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties; “shigella is one of the most toxic substances known to man”

consistency, consistence, substance, body

(noun) the property of holding together and retaining its shape; “wool has more body than rayon”; “when the dough has enough consistency it is ready to bake”

meaning, substance

(noun) the idea that is intended; “What is the meaning of this proverb?”

kernel, substance, core, center, centre, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, marrow, meat, nub, pith, sum, nitty-gritty

(noun) the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience; “the gist of the prosecutor’s argument”; “the heart and soul of the Republican Party”; “the nub of the story”

message, content, subject matter, substance

(noun) what a communication that is about something is about

means, substance

(noun) considerable capital (wealth or income); “he is a man of means”

substance

(noun) material of a particular kind or constitution; “the immune response recognizes invading substances”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

substance (countable and uncountable, plural substances)

Physical matter; material.

Synonyms: matter, stuff

The essential part of anything; the most vital part.

Synonyms: crux, gist

Substantiality; solidity; firmness.

Material possessions; estate; property; resources.

A form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties.

Drugs (illegal narcotics)

Synonyms: dope, gear

(theology) Hypostasis.

Synonyms

• (physical matter): See also substance

• (essential part of anything): See also gist

• (drugs): See also recreational drug

Verb

substance (third-person singular simple present substances, present participle substancing, simple past and past participle substanced)

(rare, transitive) To give substance to; to make real or substantial.

Source: Wiktionary

Sub"stance, n. Etym: [F., fr. L. substantia, fr. substare to be under or present, to stand firm; sub under + stare to stand. See Stand.]

1. That which underlies all outward manifestations; substratum; the permanent subject or cause of phenomena, whether material or spiritual; that in which properties inhere; that which is real, in distinction from that which is apparent; the abiding part of any existence, in distinction from any accident; that which constitutes anything what it is; real or existing essence. These cooks, how they stamp, and strain, and grind, And turn substance into accident! Chaucer. Heroic virtue did his actions guide, And he the substance, not the appearance, chose. Dryden.

2. The most important element in any existence; the characteristic and essential components of anything; the main part; essential import; purport. This edition is the same in substance with the Latin. Bp. Burnet. It is insolent in words, in manner; but in substance it is not only insulting, but alarming. Burke.

3. Body; matter; material of which a thing is made; hence, substantiality; solidity; firmness; as, the substance of which a garment is made; some textile fabrics have little substance.

4. Material possessions; estate; property; resources. And there wasted his substance with riotous living. Luke xv. 13. Thy substance, valued at the highest rate, Can not amount unto a hundred marks. Shak. We are destroying many thousand lives, and exhausting our substance, but not for our own interest. Swift.

5. (Theol.)

Definition: Same as Hypostasis, 2.

Sub"stance, v. t.

Definition: To furnish or endow with substance; to supply property to; to make rich. [Obs.]

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition

SUBSTANCE

Etymology

Noun

Synonyms

Verb

Recent Word Finds

Word of the Day

AMPHIPROSTYLAR

Do you know this game?