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substance

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noun American English pronunciation: substance /ˈsʌbstəns/ 
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singularsubstance
pluralsubstances
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Related dictionary definitions

 
  1. 1
    [countable] a particular type of liquid, solid, or gas

    The wood is coated with a special substance that protects it from the sun.

    a hazardous/harmful/radioactive substance:

    Some workers had developed cancer after exposure to radioactive substances.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of substance
  2. 2
    a drug that people can start to depend on, especially an illegal drug

    Heroin is an addictive substance.

    The campus is a substance-free environment.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of substance
    See also  controlled substance
  3. 3
    [uncountable] the quality of being important, real, or useful, or something that shows this quality

    Her comments added substance to the debate.

    The band is all glitz and no substance.

    of substance:

    The agency hasn't accomplished anything of substance for years.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of substance
  4. 4
    [uncountable] the most important ideas or basic meaning of a discussion or a piece of writing

    He refused to discuss the substance of the meetings.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of substance
  5. 5
    [uncountable] [usually in negatives or questions] the fact that something is based on accurate information
    substance to:

    There is no substance to his accusations.

    give substance to something (=show that something is true):

    Their appearance together gave substance to the rumors of their imminent marriage.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of substance

phrases

This is the American English definition of substance. View British English definition of substance.

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