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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 © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

idioms substance idiom

medical substance definition - medical

substance Synonyms

substance

n.

  1. Essence

    body, core, pith; see basis 1, essence 1, matter 1.

  2. Object

    matter, material, being, object, item, person, animal, something, element; see also thing 1.

in substance

in essence, substantially, actually; see essentially.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

substance Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • prohibit: We are looking for confirmation that they cannot find any prohibited substances in the dietary supplements.

Adjective modifier

  • hazardous: Chemicals or hazardous substances can damage people's lives.

Modifies a noun

  • misuse: Substance misuse is a growing problem around the world.

Noun used with modifier

  • ozone-depleting: Many countries, for example, now have technical standard regulations limiting or banning the use of ozone-depleting substances.
substance usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

substance quotes

   I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

-Bible (Old Testament)

Give not thy soul unto a woman to set her foot upon thy substance.

-Bible (Apocrypha)

And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.

-Bible (NewTestament)

substance quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"substance." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/substance>

APA Style

substance. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/substance

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