sub·stance /ˈsʌbstəns/ ●●● W3 noun 1 material 物质 [countableC]SUBSTANCE a particular type of solid, liquid, or gas 物质 The leaves were covered with a strange sticky substance. 树叶上覆着一层黏糊糊的怪东西。
dangerous/toxic/hazardous/poisonous etc substance harmful substances in the atmosphere 大气中的有害物质
Plutonium 238 is one of the most toxic substances known to man. 钚238是人类已知毒性最强的物质之一。
illegal/banned/prohibited/controlled substance (=used especially about illegal drugs) 非法/违禁/管制品〔尤指毒品〕 Police found an illegal substance in his car. 警察在他的车里发现了违禁品。
2 truth 事实 [uncountableU usually in questions and negatives] formalTRUE if something has substance, it is true 事实 There is no substance to the rumours (=they are untrue). 这些传闻毫无根据。
without substance (=untrue) O'Connell’s remarks are completely without substance. 奥康奈尔的话完全站不住脚。
3 ideas 思想 [singular, uncountableU]MEANING the most important ideas contained in an argument or piece of writing 〔论点、文章的〕主旨,主要内容,要义 SYN essence The substance of his argument was that people on welfare should work. 他论点的主旨是享受社会福利的人应该去工作。
in substance What she said, in substance, was that the mayor should resign. 她所说的话的中心意思是市长应该辞职。
4 importance 重要性 [uncountableU] formalIMPORTANT importance 重要性 SYN significance It was an entertaining speech, but it lacked substance (=there was no important information in it). 演讲很有趣味,但缺乏实质性的内容。
matters/issues of substance We should be discussing matters of substance. 我们应该讨论重要的事情。
5. man/woman of substance British EnglishBrE literary a rich man or woman 富人,有财产的人man/woman of substance• His will, executed on 12 December 1760, shows him to have been a man of substance.• He accepted the semi-political duties of a man of substance in his county.• But Miss Close's father was a man of substance, and he finally bought the picture for a rather large sum.• He was a man of substance.• I was a man of substance now, I had arrived.• The lowest officials on the administrative tier were the village headmen, who were normally men of substance.• I am not worried about the men of substance.• Aristeides represented the land forces, the men of substance, who provided their own armour and were not paid. n COLLOCATIONSadjectivesa dangerous/hazardous/harmful substanceUsing chemicals or other hazardous substances at work can put people's health at risk.
a poisonous substance (also a noxious substance formal) (=harmful to people)Cigarette smoke contains several poisonous substances.
a toxic substance (=harmful to people and the environment)All toxic substances should be labelled and carefully stored in a safe place.
a radioactive substance (=containing a form of energy that can harm people)People who work with radioactive substances are subject to strict regulations.
an illegal/banned/prohibited substance (=used mainly to refer to illegal drugs)Any player found guilty of using banned substances faces the prospect of a lengthy suspension.
a controlled substance law (=an illegal drug)He was charged with possessing a controlled substance.
an organic substance (=from a living thing)Despite being an organic substance, ivory is remarkably durable.
substance• The green colour of the leaf is due to a substance called chlorophyll.• The transportation of flammable substances is tightly regulated.• Although Mr McKinnell's style is more approachable than his predecessor's, close observers reckon his substance is just as strong.• She was arrested for smoking marijuana, an illegal substance.• It was an entertaining speech, but without much substance.• But after seven months the teams were adrift, and had accomplished little of substance.• Poisonous substances, such as garden chemicals, should be clearly labelled.• The half-life of a radioactive substance is the time interval taken for the radiant species present to lose half its radioactivity.• the problem of disposing of radioactive substances• Some substances have the ability to soak up, or adsorb, other chemicals.• Resin is a dark, sticky substance.• Energy, after all, depends upon the speed with which that substance is travelling.• They took it in turns to breathe in the smoke, as the substance sizzled with a malicious delight.• Brown did not contest the substance of the reports.• When the water drops, the substances drift back along the passageways and soak into the water table.• They're asking people to look out for the substances which were in a large grey plastic box.• The substance of Marx's views is the same in both of these books.• toxic substances lacked substance• It lacked substance - almost as much as had my fantasies that Edward was deliberately keeping us apart.