essencees‧sence /ˈesəns/ ●●○ noun 
The essence of Arsenal’s style of football was speed. She seems the very essence of kindness (=she seems very kind).2in essence used when talking about the most basic and important part of something, especially an idea, belief, or argument: In essence his message was very simple.3[countable, uncountable] a liquid obtained from a plant, flower etc that has a very strong smell or taste and is used especially in cooking: vanilla essence4 something is of the essence used to say that something is very important: Good communications are of the essence to remain competitive.time/speed is of the essence (=it is very important to do something quickly)
WORD ORIGINessence
Origin:
1300-1400 French, Latin essentia, from esse ‘to be’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- essence of garlic
- Equality is the essence of democracy.
- His speech was, in essence, a plea for understanding and conciliation.
- Sharing is the essence of friendship.
- The essence of his argument is that human character is formed by society.
- The essence of his teachings can be summed up in the phrase "Know yourself."
- The movie brilliantly captures the essence of Calcutta's street life.
- This is the essence of the problem, as I see it.
- I understand why the Government have maintained an exemption for small businesses, for which survival is of the essence.
- In essence, internal relations previously based on hierarchies and bureaucratic authority are being gradually transformed into actual or surrogate market transactions.
- It was mind-boggling how quickly he captured the essence of our business and started making improvements.
- That in essence is what started Pons and Fleischmann on their quest for test-tube fusion.
- The defence case, which opened last week, will in essence plead incompetence.
Longman Language Activatorthe character of something
the combination of qualities that a particular kind of place, thing etc has: the character of: · The whole character of the school had changed.· We'll find out about the true character of this team after these next few games.character: · Marx's view of society stressed its dynamic character.in character: · Liquids are different in character from both solids and gases.
the true character of something, which you must understand in order to know what it is really like: the nature of: · The doctor admitted that he didn't yet understand the nature of Julie's illness.· Monnens spends his days explaining the nature of Internet advertising to clients.by its nature (=because of its nature): · Computers, by their nature, tend to change the way offices are organized.be in the nature of something (=be a permanent part of its nature): · It's in the nature of elections that campaigning sometimes gets quite tough.
the most basic and important quality of something that make it different from anything else: the essence of: · This is the essence of the problem, as I see it.· The movie brilliantly captures the essence of Calcutta's street life.· Sharing is the essence of friendship.in essence (=most importantly): · His speech was, in essence, a plea for understanding and conciliation.
the main part of a problem, idea, or belief the most important part of a difficult problem, a question, or an argument etc that must be dealt with or understood before any further progress can be made: · Whether we can get funding or not is the crux.the crux of the matter/problem/question etc: · Finding a cheap source of energy is really the crux of the matter.· The crux of the court case is whether consumers deserve a refund.
the main feature or quality that gives something its own special character: the essence of something: · Equality is the essence of democracy.· The essence of his teachings can be summed up in the phrase "Know yourself."
the most important part of a problem, consideration, question etc: the heart of the matter/problem/question etc: · Let's stop talking about irrelevant issues, and get to the heart of the matter.lie at the heart of something: · Money always lies at the heart of our fights.go/get to the heart of something: · This new book gets to the heart of the controversy over nuclear power.
the main part of an idea, belief, way of thinking etc, that everything else depends on: the core of something: · The core of the play's appeal is that the good guys win in the end.to the core of something: · She had the ability to cut through to the core of a problem.at the core of something: · The profit motive is at the core of the capitalist system.
the main fact about a situation, that must be accepted and cannot be changed or avoided: · Most people want to work in a place where they feel valued. That's the bottom line.the bottom line is: · The bottom line is, he's gone and he's not coming back.
the main meaning of something the main idea of an argument, discussion, statement etc that shows its general or most important meaning: the point of something: · The point of the story did not emerge until the end of the film.somebody's point: · What's your point? Do you think I'm not good enough for your daughter?miss the point (=not understand the main idea): · The talk was about symbolism in art -- Len missed the point and thought it was about painting techniques.the point is.... (=used for mentioning the most important thing): · The point is, you should have told me where you were going.come/get to the point (=to reach the most important part of what you want to say): · "I'll come straight to the point," said the doctor. "I think you are suffering from depression."
the main idea and meaning of something such as an article or a speech: the gist of something: · I don't know the whole story but this is the gist of it.get the gist (of something) (=understand the gist of something): · Read the article once through to get the gist of it.· Students are encouraged to read the text, getting the gist, then go deeper into the meaning.
the most important meaning of something such as an argument or piece of writing: the essence of something: · The essence of his argument is that human character is formed by society.
the main set of ideas involved in something such as an explanation, argument, or account of something: the drift of something: · The drift of his letter is that he wants to come back.catch/get/follow somebody's drift (=understand the basic idea of what someone is saying): · It was a complicated argument but I think I caught his drift.· I follow your drift, but I just don't believe it.
the most important message of an argument, explanation etc, especially when it consists of a set of connected ideas leading to a final answer or idea: the thrust of something: · It is difficult to argue with the thrust of Davidson's analysis of the situation.· The overall thrust of her argument was that women are still oppressed in all areas of life.
formal the most important ideas contained in an argument or piece of writing: the substance of something: · The substance of Marx's views is the same in both of these books.
WORD SETSallspice, nounbake, verbbarbecue, verbbaste, verbblanch, verbboil, verbbottle, verbbouillon cube, nounbraise, verbbreadcrumbs, nounbreaded, adjectivebrine, nounbroil, verbbrown, verbbutter, verbcandied, adjectivecaper, nouncaramel, nouncardamom, nouncarve, verbcasserole, nouncasserole, verbcaster sugar, nouncharbroil, verbchervil, nounchestnut, nounchicory, nounchill, verbchilli powder, nounchip, verbcilantro, nouncinnamon, nounclean, verbclove, nouncochineal, nouncoconut, nouncook, verbcook, nouncookbook, nouncookery, nouncookery book, nouncordon bleu, adjectivecore, verbcoriander, nouncream, verbcrisp, verbcube, verbculinary, adjectivecumin, nouncurry powder, noundeep fry, verbdessertspoon, noundevilled, adjectivedice, verbdone, adjectivedress, verbessence, nounfat, nounflambé, adjectiveflan, nounflavouring, nounflour, nounflour, verbfrost, verbfrosting, nounfry, verbglaze, verbglaze, noungourmet, adjectivegourmet, noungrate, verbgrease, noungrease, verbgreaseproof paper, noungrill, verbgrill, noungrind, verbgut, verbhard-boiled, adjectivehaute cuisine, nounhob, nounhull, verbhusk, verbice, verbicebox, nounicing, nounicing sugar, nouningredient, nounjoint, verbknead, verblard, nounlard, verbleaven, nounliquidize, verbmarinade, nounmarinate, verbmarjoram, nounmicrowave, verbmince, verbmincer, nounmint, nounmix, verbmix, nounnouvelle cuisine, nounnutmeg, nounoil, nounolive oil, nounoverdone, adjectiveparboil, verbpare, verbpickle, verbpipe, verbpit, verbpitted, adjectivepkt, pluck, verbplum tomato, nounpoach, verbprecooked, adjectivepreheat, verbprep, verbprove, verbrecipe, nounreduce, verbrice paper, nounrind, nounrise, verbroast, verbroast, nounroast, adjectiverosemary, nounroux, nounsaffron, nounsage, nounsalt, nounsalt, verbsauce, nounsausage meat, nounsauté, verbsavory, nounscalloped, adjectivesear, verbseason, verbseasoning, nounself-raising flour, nounself-rising flour, nounsesame, nounshell, verbshortening, nounshort-order cook, nounshuck, verbsieve, verbsift, verbsifter, nounsimmer, verbsimmer, nounskewer, verbsmoke, verbsoak, verbsoda, nounsodium bicarbonate, nounspice, nounspice, verbspicy, adjectivestarch, nounsteam, verbsteep, verbstew, verbstock, nounstone, verbstrain, verbstuff, verbstuffing, nounsunny-side up, adjectivesweat, verbsweet-and-sour, adjectiveTabasco, nountandoori, adjectivetarragon, nountbsp, teaspoon, nountenderize, verbtenderloin, nountextured vegetable protein, nounthaw, verbthyme, nountimer, nountoast, nountoast, verbtoss, verbtruss, verbtsp, turmeric, noununderdone, adjectivevinaigrette, nounvinegar, nounwhip, verbwhisk, verbyeast, nounzap, verbzest, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY She seems the very essence of kindness (=she seems very kind).
She seems the very essence of kindness (=she seems very kind). (=it is very important to do something quickly)
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· As a travel writer, the very nature of his job meant that he travelled a lot.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· And it's the bodily imperfections and decay which lead us to desire a permanence of the human essence.· Even greater difficulties follow from the way in which Marx identifies production with human essence.· Laing is still preoccupied with the authentic self, the repressed human essence.
· Our nominal essences of modes, however, are ideas of their real essences.· The real essences of modes are not corpuscular, of course.· Our knowledge is bounded by our ideas, and extends only so far as they are ideas of real essences.· But geometrical figures are not the only modes, and so are not the only things whose real essences we can know.· That is surely the real essence of beauty, nomatterwhat the age.· They result from their real essences, the arrangement of corpuscles which make them up.· The real essence of integration, however, is not multilateralism, but the creation of a supranational economy.
· Atheism for Marxism is not an optional extra or a mere facet but the very essence of it.· These distortions are the very essence of prejudice, and it is hardly surprising that conflict with Peter had arisen.· Wars were the very essence of the Roman organization.· In Richard, she had the very essence of his father.· The second assumption is the very essence of self development.· It is, indeed, politically more difficult for it threatens the very essence of capitalism.· Yet movement is the very essence of being human and of the human condition which policing sets out to nullify.· Plato argued that to know yourself was the very essence of knowledge.
NOUN· Put a few drops of natural vanilla essence into a pan of water and place in a low oven.· Gradually whisk in beaten egg and vanilla essence.· Mix the lemon juice and vanilla essence with the custard.· Mix cream cheese, icing sugar, vanilla essence and pistachio nuts.· She marshalled the troops: flour, sugar, eggs, milk, vanilla essence.· Take off heat, stir in vanilla essence.
VERB· Nevertheless, it captures the essence of the game very well.· A few simple brushstrokes have captured the essence of her inextinguishable hope for a better future.· It is difficult to capture the essence of why a trip is enjoyable.· We want to capture the essence of his great trio, but with our own arrangements and in our own way.· To the environmentally concerned, however, the origin and extraction method for capturing an essence may be of vital importance.· They did capture the essence of what we were looking for: the emotional aspect of growing up with the virus.· Anyone acquainted with ancient ikons will recognise how acutely she has captured their essence.· It was mind-boggling how quickly he captured the essence of our business and started making improvements.
· A magic-saturated shaman mushroom is very potent indeed, containing the essence of the shaman's magical power.· The capacity to build a relationship contains the essence of any social work interaction.· This article contains the essence of both trips.· Why, it might contain the essence of life itself.
· In this sense the policy represents the essence of consumerism.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
- In essence, leadership involves accomplishing goals with and through people.
- As with every other aspect of the desert life cycle, time is of the essence.
- But time is of the essence.
- I understand why the Government have maintained an exemption for small businesses, for which survival is of the essence.
- If you like the house the chances are that other people will like it too, so speed is of the essence.
- It is clear that, in the development of the safety case regime, time is of the essence.
- Speed is of the essence when following up newspaper advertisements.
- Speed is of the essence, especially when it comes to losing weight.
- Superposition is of the essence of waves, which can be added together to reinforce or cancel each other out.
WORD FAMILYnounessenceessentials ≠ inessentialsadjectiveessential ≠ inessentialadverbessentially
1[singular] the most basic and important quality of somethingessence of The essence of Arsenal’s style of football was speed. She seems the very essence of kindness (=she seems very kind).2in essence used when talking about the most basic and important part of something, especially an idea, belief, or argument: In essence his message was very simple.3[countable, uncountable] a liquid obtained from a plant, flower etc that has a very strong smell or taste and is used especially in cooking: vanilla essence4 something is of the essence used to say that something is very important: Good communications are of the essence to remain competitive.time/speed is of the essence (=it is very important to do something quickly)