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Definition

noun, plural:substances

(1) The physical matter, material or that of which an organ or body consists.

(2) (chemistry) A material, matter or that which has definite chemical composition and distinct properties.

(3) The most vital or essential part of something.

(4) Drugs, as in substance abuse.

Supplement

In biology, the term substance is used to refer to the material constituting an organ, e.g. ground substance or spongy substance.

In chemistry, all compounds are substances but not all substances are compounds since pure elements are also chemical substances. Chemical compounds may exist as solid, liquid or gas. Examples are water, salt, sugar, etc. Forms of energy such as light and heat are not considered a chemical substance.

Word origin: from Latin substantia, literally meaning "standing under"
Related forms: substantial (adjective)

Related terms:

• Proper substance
• Substance abuse
• Ground substance
• Spongy substance
• Cortical substance