/tran'seuhb stan'shee ay"sheuhn/ , n.
1. the changing of one substance into another.
2. Theol. the changing of the elements of the bread and wine, when they are consecrated in the Eucharist, into the body and blood of Christ (a doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church). Cf. transignification .
[ 1350-1400; ME transubstanciacioun transsubstantiation- (s. of transsubstantiatio ). See TRANSUBSTANTIATE, -ION ]