essence

noun
UK: /ˈesns/
US: /ˈesəns/

  1. The basic or most important quality of something.

    1. The essence of life is precious and short, so enjoy every moment.
    2. The director captured the very essence of the novel in the film adaptation.

  2. A liquid taken from a plant, flower, etc. that has a strong smell and is used to make perfume or flavouring.

    1. I added a drop of vanilla essence to the cake batter for extra flavor.
    2. Rose essence is a popular ingredient in many perfumes due to its sweet scent.

  3. The inherent nature of something, which determines its character.

    1. Kindness is the essence of her personality, and she shows it to everyone.
    2. At its essence, the problem is a lack of communication between the departments.

Synonyms

soul gist heart extract core perfume nature

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "essence" in English means: The basic or most important quality of something., A liquid taken from a plant, flower, etc. that has a strong smell and is used to make perfume or flavouring., The inherent nature of something, which determines its character..

The phonetic transcription of "essence" is /ˈesns/ in British English and /ˈesəns/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "essence": soul, gist, heart, extract, core, perfume, nature.

Example usage of "essence": "The essence of life is precious and short, so enjoy every moment.". More examples on the page.