substance
[noun]
Synonyms:
- material, body, fabric, stuff
- meaning, essence, gist, import, main point, significance
- reality, actuality, concreteness
- wealth, assets, estate, means, property, resources

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Related Idioms: the general drift
Related Words: import, meaning, center, focus, heart, nucleus, point, meaningfulness, drift, tenor

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English Thesaurus: material, substance, matter, stuff, fabric, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

sub‧stance W3 /ˈsʌbstəns/ noun
[Word Family: noun: substance, substantiation, substantive; adjective: substantial ≠ insubstantial, substantive; verb: substantiate; adverb: substantially]
[Date: 1200-1300; Language: Old French; Origin: Latin substantia, from substare 'to stand under']

1. MATERIAL [countable] a particular type of solid, liquid, or gas:
The leaves were covered with a strange sticky substance.
dangerous/toxic/hazardous/poisonous etc substance
harmful substances in the atmosphere
Plutonium 238 is one of the most toxic substances known to man.
illegal/banned/prohibited/controlled substance (=used especially about illegal drugs)
Police found an illegal substance in his car.

2. TRUTH [uncountable usually in questions and negatives] formal if something has substance, it is true:
There is no substance to the rumours (=they are untrue).
without substance (=untrue)
O'Connell’s remarks are completely without substance.

3. IDEAS [singular, uncountable] the most important ideas contained in an argument or piece of writing Synonym : essence:
The substance of his argument was that people on welfare should work.
in substance
What she said, in substance, was that the mayor should resign.

4. IMPORTANCE [uncountable] formal importance Synonym : significance:
It was an entertaining speech, but it lacked substance (=there was no important information in it).
matters/issues of substance
We should be discussing matters of substance.

5. man/woman of substance British English literary a rich man or woman

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

substance
noun
I. material
ADJ. addictive, carcinogenic, dangerous, harmful, hazardous, noxious, poisonous, radioactive, toxic | innocuous Even innocuous substances can sometimes register a positive result in a drug test.
banned, illegal | natural a natural substance found in the body of animals
chemical | inorganic, organic | pure | soluble, volatile | crystalline, fatty, oily, slimy, sticky, viscous | medicinal
VERB + SUBSTANCE use | contain | produce Some frogs produce very toxic substances in their skin.
take The athletes had taken banned substances to increase their strength.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

substance
II. important content
ADJ. real The real substance of the report was in the third part.
added His disappearance has given added substance to the argument that he stole the money.
VERB + SUBSTANCE have The image of him that the media have presented has no substance.
give sth, lend sth The letters lent substance to the rumours.
lack
PREP. in ~ There's no difference in substance between the two points of view.
of ~ Nothing of substance was achieved at the meeting.
without ~ Their allegations were without substance.
~ in There's no substance in the story.
~ to There was little substance to his claims.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

substance

a dangerous/hazardous/harmful substance
Using chemicals or othe hazardous substances at work can put people's health at risk.
a poisonous substance (also a noxious substance formal) (=harmful to people)
Cigarette smoke contains several poisonous substances.
a toxic substance (=harmful to people and the environment)
All toxic substances should be labelled and carefully stored in a safe place.
a radioactive substance (=containing a form of energy that can harm people)
People who work with radioactive substances are subject to strict regulations.
an illegal/banned/prohibited substance (=used mainly to refer to illegal drugs)
Any player found guilty of using banned substances faces the prospect of a lengthy suspension.
a controlled substance law (=an illegal drug)
He was charged with possessing a controlled substance.
an organic substance (=from a living thing)
Despite being an organic substance, ivory is remarkably durable.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

material noun [uncountable and countable] a substance, especially one that can be used for making things:
building materials
The island has to import oil and other raw materials (=materials used for making things).
radioactive material
substance noun [countable] a type of material such as a chemical or a mineral:
The green colour of the leaf is due to a substance called chlorophyll.
Dioxin is one of the most toxic substances known to man.
matter noun [uncountable] formal a type of substance – used especially in the following phrases:
waste matter from the body
It is important to add plenty of organic matter to the soil.
People throw away lots of vegetable matter.
stuff noun [uncountable] informal a substance - used especially when you do not know exactly what it is:
What’s that sticky stuff on the floor?

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

material noun [uncountable and countable] cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc:
She bought some pretty dress material.
fabric noun [uncountable] cloth used for making clothes, curtains etc:
Man-made fabrics such as polyester are easy to wash and iron.
furnishing fabrics
cloth noun [uncountable] woven material, especially material made from natural substances such as cotton and wool, which has not yet been made into any other products:
The main trade was the production of woollen cloth.
textiles noun [plural] formal a general word for all types of cloth – used especially when talking about the business of producing and selling them:
Textiles are one of Mexico’s main exports.
the textile industry
substance noun [countable] a type of material such as a chemical or a mineral:
The green colour of the leaf is due to a substance called chlorophyll.
Dioxin is one of the most toxic substances known to man.
matter noun [uncountable] formal a type of substance – used especially in the following phrases:
waste matter from the body
It is important to add plenty of organic matter to the soil.
People throw away lots of vegetable matter.
stuff noun [uncountable] informal a substance - used especially when you do not know exactly what it is:
What’s that sticky stuff on the floor?

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

meaning the thoughts or ideas that someone wants you to understand from what they say, do, write etc:
What do you think is the meaning of the poem?
the gist the main idea and meaning of something such as an article or a speech:
Read the story quickly first, just to get the gist of it.
I think I understand the gist of what you’re saying.
the drift/your drift the main set of ideas involved in something such as an explanation, argument, or account of something – often used when the ideas are not stated directly:
The drift of his letter is that he wants to come back.
I don’t quite follow your drift.
the essence the most important meaning of something such as an argument or piece of writing:
The essence of what he is saying is that human character is formed by society.
the thrust the most important message of an argument, explanation etc, especially when it consists of a set of connected ideas leading to a final answer or idea:
The overall thrust of her argument is that we need to do more to protect our environment.
the substance formal the most important ideas contained in an argument or piece of writing:
The substance of Marx’s views is the same in both of these books.
His article lacks substance (=there are no interesting or important ideas in it).
the implication the meaning of what someone says, writes etc that is not stated directly, but that people are expected to understand:
The implication was that they did not consider Harrison to be trustworthy.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲

substance
ˈsʌbstəns
See: in substance

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲