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substance

Syllabification: (sub·stance)
Pronunciation: /ˈsəbstəns/
Translate substance | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of substance

noun

  • 1a particular kind of matter with uniform properties:a steel tube coated with a waxy substance
  • an intoxicating, stimulating, or narcotic chemical or drug, especially an illegal one.
  • 2the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists and which has a tangible, solid presence:proteins compose much of the actual substance of the body
  • the quality of having a solid basis in reality or fact:the claim has no substance
  • the quality of being dependable or stable:some were inclined to knock her for her lack of substance
  • 3the quality of being important, valid, or significant:he had yet to accomplish anything of substance
  • the most important or essential part of something; the real or essential meaning:the substance of the treaty
  • the subject matter of a text, speech, or work of art, especially as contrasted with the form or style in which it is presented.
  • wealth and possessions:a woman of substance
  • Philosophy the essential nature underlying phenomena, which is subject to changes and accidents.

Phrases

in substance

essentially:basic rights are equivalent in substance to human rights

Origin:

Middle English (denoting the essential nature of something): from Old French, from Latin substantia 'being, essence', from substant- 'standing firm', from the verb substare

substance in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of substance in the British & World English dictionary