essence: Meaning and Definition of

es•sence

Pronunciation: (es'uns), [key]
— n.
  1. the basic, real, and invariable nature of a thing or its significant individual feature or features: Freedom is the very essence of our democracy.
  2. a substance obtained from a plant, drug, or the like, by distillation, infusion, etc., and containing its characteristic properties in concentrated form.
  3. an alcoholic solution of an essential oil; spirit.
  4. a perfume; scent.
  5. the inward nature, true substance, or constitution of anything, as opposed to what is accidental, phenomenal, illusory, etc.
  6. something that exists, esp. a spiritual or immaterial entity.
  7. essentially; at bottom, often despite appearances: For all his bluster, he is in essence a shy person.
  8. absolutely essential; critical; crucial: In chess, cool nerves are of the essence.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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