substance

Plural: substances

Noun

• the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists
  • "DNA is the substance of our genes"
• the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience
• the idea that is intended
• material of a particular kind or constitution
  • "the immune response recognizes invading substances"
• considerable capital (wealth or income)
• what a communication that is about something is about
• a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties
  • "shigella is one of the most toxic substances known to man"
• Physical matter; material.
• Physical matter; material.
• A form of matter that has constant chemical composition and characteristic properties.
• The essential part of anything; the most vital part.
• Substantiality; solidity; firmness.
• Material possessions; estate; property; resources.
• Drugs (illegal narcotics)
• Ousia, essence; underlying reality or hypostasis in the philosophical sense.

Verb

• To give substance to; to make real or substantial.

Examples

• a man of substance
• Some textile fabrics have little substance.
• substance abuse

Synonyms

center, centre, content, core, essence, gist, heart, heart and soul, inwardness, kernel, marrow, meaning, means, meat, message, nitty-gritty, nub, pith, subject matter, sum, body, corporeity, crux, dope, gear, mass, material, matter, stuff, substance

Antonyms

dream, ego, energy, force, heat, light, mind, nothing, personality, phantom, power, shadow, soul, spirit, vacuum, void

Related Words

style, subsist, substantial, substantive