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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Substance Definition: Physical Matter and Core Meaning (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：physical matter (substance)

substance 🔊

/ˈsʌbstəns/

A particular type of solid, liquid, or gas, like water, wood, or plastic.

physical matter 🔊

➕

/ˈfɪzɪkəl ˈmætər/

A particular type of solid, liquid, or gas that has mass and occupies space, such as water, wood, or plastic.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Elementary

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Latin 'substantia': 'sub-' (under) + 'stare' (to stand); 'what stands under'.

💡 Mnemonic

Think 'sub' (under) + 'stance' (standing) → what stands under everything is the substance.

📖 Example

When baking a cake, it's important to mix the dry substances, like flour and sugar, thoroughly with the wet ones. 🔊 When baking a cake, it's important to mix the dry substances, like flour and sugar, thoroughly with the wet ones.

🔗 Collocations

chemical substance – a substance with a defined chemical composition

hazardous substance – a substance that is dangerous to health or the environment

controlled substance – a drug or chemical whose possession and use are regulated by law

🔄 Synonyms

material (n.) – the matter from which something is made

matter (n.) – physical substance in general

stuff (n.) – a general term for any substance or material

🚫 Antonyms

void (n.) – a completely empty space; absence of matter

nothingness (n.) – the state of being nothing; complete absence of substance

🌱 Derivatives

substantial (adj.) – of considerable importance, size, or worth

substantiate (v.) – to provide evidence to support or prove the truth of something

substantive (adj.) – having independent existence; important, meaningful

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Latin 'substantia', used by Cicero to translate Greek 'ousia' (being). Today, 'substance' is a key term in law, science, and daily talk about importance.

Meaning 2：core meaning (substance)

substance 🔊

/ˈsʌbstəns/

The most important or main part of something, like the key point of a speech or the real value of a plan.

core meaning 🔊

➕

/kɔːr ˈmiːnɪŋ/

The most important or main part of something, such as the key point of a speech or the real value of a plan.

📁 Category：Culture & History 🔖 Level：Advanced

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The book review didn't just list the plot; it discussed the substance of the author's message about friendship. 🔊 The book review didn't just list the plot; it discussed the substance of the author's message about friendship.

🔗 Collocations

substance of the argument – the central point or main idea of an argument

lack substance – to be without significant content or importance

give substance to – to make something more real, meaningful, or important

🔄 Synonyms

essence (n.) – the intrinsic nature or indispensable quality of something

core (n.) – the central or most important part of something

gist (n.) – the essence or main point of a statement

🚫 Antonyms

superficiality (n.) – lack of depth or substance; shallowness

fluff (n.) – something trivial or lacking serious substance

🌱 Derivatives

substantial (adj.) – of considerable importance, size, or worth

substantiate (v.) – to provide evidence to support or prove the truth of something

substantive (adj.) – having independent existence; important, meaningful