substance Hear it!

substance definition

sub·stance (sub′stəns)

noun

  1. the real or essential part or element of anything; essence, reality, or basic matter
    1. the physical matter of which a thing consists; material
    2. matter of a particular kind or chemical composition
    1. solid quality; substantial character
    2. consistency; body
  4. the real content, meaning, or gist of something said or written
  5. material possessions; property; resources; wealth
  6. ☆ a drug
  7. Philos. something that has independent existence and is acted upon by causes

Etymology: OFr < L substantia < substare, to be present < sub-, under + stare, to stand

substance Idioms

in substance

  1. with regard to essential elements
  2. actually; really

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.