essence

noun

ES-uhns/ˈɛsəns/

8 meanings of essence

1
nouncountable or uncountable
The most basic and true part of what something is.
Like the seed inside a fruit: the small part that makes it what it is.
Kindness is the essence of who she is.
The essence of the game is simple: score more points than the other team.
Similarheart, core, soul, spirit, nature
Note
2
nouncountable or uncountable
The most important part or point of something.
Speed is the essence of the plan, so we must move fast.
The essence of her speech was one simple idea: never give up.
Similarkey, heart, crux, core
3
nouncountable or uncountable
A strong liquid taken from a plant, used to add flavor to food or drinks.
Like all the taste of a plant put into one tiny bottle.
Add a few drops of vanilla essence to the cake mix.
Grandma gave him warm beef essence when he was sick.
Similarextract, concentrate
Note
4
noununcountable
A sweet or pleasing smell, or a perfume.
The garden was full of the essence of roses after the rain.
She put a little essence on her wrists before the party.
Similarfragrance, perfume, scent, aroma
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5
nouncountable or uncountable
A very strong form of a plant or drug, made by heating it and collecting the drops.
The factory makes lavender essence by heating the flowers with steam.
One drop of peppermint essence is much stronger than a cup of mint tea.
Similarextract, concentrate, distillate
Note
6
nouncountable or uncountable
What a thing really is deep down, not just how it looks or seems.
Like gold under a coat of paint: the paint can change, but the gold stays gold.
The team changed its name and colors, but its essence stayed the same.
You can't judge a person's essence from one bad day.
Similarnature, substance
Note
7
nouncountable
The basic material that something is made of.
Some ancient thinkers taught that water was the essence of all things.
Long ago, people believed the stars were made of a special essence not found on Earth.
Similarsubstance, element, matter
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8
nouncountable
A living being, especially a spirit that has no body.
The story says a kind essence watches over the forest.
In the old tale, an essence with no body guarded the well.
Similarspirit, being, entity
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin essentia, meaning the being of a thing. That word was made from esse, meaning to be.