SUBSTANCE

noun see: stand Date: 14th century 1. essential nature ; essence , a fundamental or characteristic part or quality, god 1b, 2. ultimate reality that underlies all outward manifestations and change, practical importance ; meaning , usefulness , 3. physical material from which something is made or which has discrete existence, matter of particular or definite chemical constitution, something (as drugs or alcoholic beverages) deemed harmful and usually subject to legal restriction , material possessions ; property , ~less adjective