SUBSTANCE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does substance mean? 

• SUBSTANCE (noun)
  The noun SUBSTANCE has 8 senses:

1. the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists

2. the choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience

3. the idea that is intended

4. material of a particular kind or constitution

5. considerable capital (wealth or income)

6. what a communication that is about something is about

7. the property of holding together and retaining its shape

8. a particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties

  Familiarity information: SUBSTANCE used as a noun is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SUBSTANCE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The real physical matter of which a person or thing consists

Classified under:

Nouns with no superordinates

Context example:

DNA is the substance of our genes

Hypernyms ("substance" is a kind of...):

matter (that which has mass and occupies space)

component; component part; constituent; part; portion (something determined in relation to something that includes it)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "substance"):

body substance (the substance of the body)

living substance; protoplasm (the substance of a living cell (including cytoplasm and nucleus))

chemistry (the chemical composition and properties of a substance or object)

material; stuff (the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object)

phlogiston (a hypothetical substance once believed to be present in all combustible materials and to be released during burning)

mixture ((chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding))

atom ((physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element)

chemical element; element (any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter)

activator ((biology) any agency bringing about activation; a molecule that increases the activity of an enzyme or a protein that increases the production of a gene product in DNA transcription)

substrate (the substance that is acted upon by an enzyme or ferment)

element (one of four substances thought in ancient and medieval cosmology to constitute the physical universe)

medium (an intervening substance through which something is achieved)

medium ((biology) a substance in which specimens are preserved or displayed)

fluid (a substance that is fluid at room temperature and pressure)

volatile (a volatile substance; a substance that changes readily from solid or liquid to a vapor)

essence (any substance possessing to a high degree the predominant properties of a plant or drug or other natural product from which it is extracted)

Derivation:

substantial (having substance or capable of being treated as fact; not imaginary)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The choicest or most essential or most vital part of some idea or experience

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

the nub of the story

Hypernyms ("substance" is a kind of...):

cognitive content; content; mental object (the sum or range of what has been perceived, discovered, or learned)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "substance"):

bare bones ((plural) the most basic facts or elements)

hypostasis ((metaphysics) essential nature or underlying reality)

haecceity; quiddity (the essence that makes something the kind of thing it is and makes it different from any other)

quintessence (the purest and most concentrated essence of something)

stuff (a critically important or characteristic component)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The idea that is intended

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

meaning; substance

Context example:

What is the meaning of this proverb?

Hypernyms ("substance" is a kind of...):

idea; thought (the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "substance"):

semantics (the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text)

implication; import; significance (a meaning that is not expressly stated but can be inferred)

strain; tenor (the general meaning or substance of an utterance)

undercurrent; undertone (a subdued emotional quality underlying an utterance; implicit meaning)

denotation; extension; reference (the most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression; the class of objects that an expression refers to)

reference (the relation between a word or phrase and the object or idea it refers to)

connotation (an idea that is implied or suggested)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Material of a particular kind or constitution

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Context example:

the immune response recognizes invading substances

Hypernyms ("substance" is a kind of...):

physical entity (an entity that has physical existence)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Considerable capital (wealth or income)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

Synonyms:

means; substance

Context example:

he is a man of means

Hypernyms ("substance" is a kind of...):

capital (wealth in the form of money or property owned by a person or business and human resources of economic value)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "substance"):

pocketbook (your personal financial means)

wherewithal (the necessary means (especially financial means))

Sense 6

Meaning:

What a communication that is about something is about

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

content; message; subject matter; substance

Hypernyms ("substance" is a kind of...):

communication (something that is communicated by or to or between people or groups)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "substance"):

body (the central message of a communication)

corker ((dated slang) a remarkable or excellent thing or person)

reminder (a message that helps you remember something)

petition; postulation; request (a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority)

memorial (a written statement of facts submitted in conjunction with a petition to an authority)

latent content ((psychoanalysis) hidden meaning of a fantasy or dream)

subject; theme; topic (the subject matter of a conversation or discussion)

aside; digression; divagation; excursus; parenthesis (a message that departs from the main subject)

import; meaning; significance; signification (the message that is intended or expressed or signified)

bunk; hokum; meaninglessness; nonsense; nonsensicality (a message that seems to convey no meaning)

drivel; garbage (a worthless message)

acknowledgement; acknowledgment (a statement acknowledging something or someone)

refusal (a message refusing to accept something that is offered)

info; information (a message received and understood)

counsel; counseling; counselling; direction; guidance (something that provides direction or advice as to a decision or course of action)

commitment; dedication (a message that makes a pledge)

approval; commendation (a message expressing a favorable opinion)

disapproval (the expression of disapproval)

respects ((often used with 'pay') a formal expression of esteem)

discourtesy; disrespect (an expression of lack of respect)

insertion; interpolation (a message (spoken or written) that is introduced or inserted)

statement (a message that is stated or declared; a communication (oral or written) setting forth particulars or facts etc)

statement (a nonverbal message)

humor; humour; wit; witticism; wittiness (a message whose ingenuity or verbal skill or incongruity has the power to evoke laughter)

opinion; view (a message expressing a belief about something; the expression of a belief that is held with confidence but not substantiated by positive knowledge or proof)

direction; instruction (a message describing how something is to be done)

proposal (something proposed (such as a plan or assumption))

offer; offering (something offered (as a proposal or bid))

entry; submission (something (manuscripts or architectural plans and models or estimates or works of art of all genres etc.) submitted for the judgment of others (as in a competition))

narration; narrative; story; tale (a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program)

packaging; promo; promotion; promotional material; publicity (a message issued in behalf of some product or cause or idea or person or institution)

sensationalism (subject matter that is calculated to excite and please vulgar tastes)

shocker (a sensational message (in a film or play or novel))

Sense 7

Meaning:

The property of holding together and retaining its shape

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

body; consistence; consistency; substance

Context example:

when the dough has enough consistency it is ready to bake

Hypernyms ("substance" is a kind of...):

property (a basic or essential attribute shared by all members of a class)

Attribute:

thick (relatively dense in consistency)

thin (relatively thin in consistency or low in density; not viscous)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "substance"):

gaseousness (having the consistency of a gas)

viscosity; viscousness (resistance of a liquid to shear forces (and hence to flow))

thickness (resistance to flow)

thinness (a consistency of low viscosity)

hardness (the property of being rigid and resistant to pressure; not easily scratched; measured on Mohs scale)

softness (the property of giving little resistance to pressure and being easily cut or molded)

breakableness (the consistency of something that breaks under pressure)

unbreakableness (a consistency of something that does not break under pressure)

porosity; porousness (the property of being porous; being able to absorb fluids)

solidity; solidness (the consistency of a solid)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A particular kind or species of matter with uniform properties

Classified under:

Nouns with no superordinates

Context example:

shigella is one of the most toxic substances known to man

Hypernyms ("substance" is a kind of...):

matter (that which has mass and occupies space)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "substance"):

food; nutrient (any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue)

nutrient (any substance (such as a chemical element or inorganic compound) that can be taken in by a green plant and used in organic synthesis)

elixir; philosopher's stone; philosophers' stone (hypothetical substance that the alchemists believed to be capable of changing base metals into gold)

allergen (any substance that can cause an allergy)

assay (a substance that is undergoing an analysis of its components)

pyrectic; pyrogen (any substance that can cause a rise in body temperature)

pyrogen (any substance characterized by its great flammability)

hydrocolloid (a substance that forms a gel with water)

adulterant; adulterator (any substance that lessens the purity or effectiveness of a substance)

propellant; propellent (any substance that propels)

denaturant (any substance that serves as a denaturing agent)

inhibitor (a substance that retards or stops an activity)

ferment (a substance capable of bringing about fermentation)

agent (a substance that exerts some force or effect)

carcinogen (any substance that produces cancer)

digestive (any substance that promotes digestion)

fomentation (a substance used as a warm moist medicinal compress or poultice)

fuel (a substance that can be consumed to produce energy)

lube; lubricant; lubricating substance; lubricator (a substance capable of reducing friction by making surfaces smooth or slippery)

humectant (any substance that is added to another substance to keep it moist)

inoculant; inoculum (a substance (a virus or toxin or immune serum) that is introduced into the body to produce or increase immunity to a particular disease)

jelly (any substance having the consistency of jelly or gelatin)

leaven; leavening (a substance used to produce fermentation in dough or a liquid)

refrigerant (any substance used to provide cooling (as in a refrigerator))

lysin (any substance (such as an antibody) or agent that can cause lysis)

poison; poisonous substance; toxicant (any substance that causes injury or illness or death of a living organism)

chemical irritant (a substance producing irritation)

antigen (any substance (as a toxin or enzyme) that stimulates an immune response in the body (especially the production of antibodies))

ligand (a substance (an atom or molecule or radical or ion) that forms a complex around a central atom)

metabolite (any substance involved in metabolism (either as a product of metabolism or as necessary for metabolism))

vehicle (any substance that facilitates the use of a drug or pigment or other material that is mixed with it)

 Context examples 

A form of the natural substance carnitine that is being studied as a way to prevent tissue damage caused by chemotherapy.

(acetyl-L-carnitine, NCI Dictionary)

A substance holding another substance in solution or suspension.

(Medium, NCI Thesaurus)

Describes the amount of acid in a substance.

(Acidity, NCI Dictionary)

If you are troubled by a fear, a past episode, or a dependence on a substance, as three examples, seek help.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

It also helps get rid of toxic substances.

(Metabolite, NCI Dictionary)

Any substance that inhibits acetylcholinesterase (AchE), an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine (Ach) in the synaptic cleft.

(Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitor, NCI Thesaurus)

Their substance was not mere human clay.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

A small amount of a substance called radioactive metaiodobenzylguanidine is injected into a vein and travels through the bloodstream.

(Metaiodobenzylguanidine scan, NCI Dictionary)

Over time, harmful amounts of this substance can accumulate in various cells and tissues in the body.

(Molecule may impact Gaucher, Parkinson’s disease, NIH)

Myelin is a fatty substance that covers the nerve fibers of white matter in the brain.

(Too Much Screen Time Changes Structure of Toddlers' Brains, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)