es|sen|tial

es|sen|tial
es|sen|tial «uh SEHN shuhl», adjective, noun.
–adj.
1. needed to make a thing what it is; very important; necessary: »

Good food and enough rest are essential to good health.

SYNONYM(S): indispensable, requisite, vital. See syn. under necessary. (Cf. ↑necessary)
2. of or making up the essence of a substance: »

the essential coldness of ice. Essential color is the color of a mineral without any impurities in it.

 See also essential oil. (Cf. ↑essential oil)
3. being or containing the essence, or fragrance, flavor, and medicinal qualities, of a plant or other material: »

essential odors.

4. being such by its essence or very nature, or in the highest sense: »

essential happiness, essential poetry.

–n.
an absolutely necessary element or quality; fundamental feature: »

Learn the essentials first; then learn the details.

╂[< Late Latin essentiālis < Latin essentia; see etym. under essence (Cf. ↑essence)]
–es|sen´tial|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • es|sen|tial|ly — «uh SEHN shuh lee», adverb. in essence; in essentials; in an essential manner …   Useful english dictionary

  • co´es|sen´tial|ness — co|es|sen|tial «KOH uh SEHN shuhl», adjective. having the same essence or nature; united in essence. –co´es|sen´tial|ly, adverb. –co´es|sen´tial|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • co´es|sen´tial|ly — co|es|sen|tial «KOH uh SEHN shuhl», adjective. having the same essence or nature; united in essence. –co´es|sen´tial|ly, adverb. –co´es|sen´tial|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • co|es|sen|tial — «KOH uh SEHN shuhl», adjective. having the same essence or nature; united in essence. –co´es|sen´tial|ly, adverb. –co´es|sen´tial|ness, noun …   Useful english dictionary

  • es|sen´tial|ness — es|sen|tial «uh SEHN shuhl», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. needed to make a thing what it is; very important; necessary: »Good food and enough rest are essential to good health. SYNONYM(S): indispensable, requisite, vital. See syn. under necessary.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • es|sen|tial|ism — «uh SEHN shuh lihz uhm», noun. 1. Education. the theory that basic cultural ideals and attitudes should be identified and taught systematically to all students. 2. Philosophy. a theory or belief that emphasizes the essence of things …   Useful english dictionary

  • es|sen|tial|ist — «uh SEHN shuh lihst», noun. a person who believes in or practices essentialism …   Useful english dictionary

  • es|sen|tial|ize — «uh SEHN shuh lyz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. to raise to essential character; express the essential form of …   Useful english dictionary

  • in|es|sen|tial — «IHN uh SEHN shuhl», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. not essential; not necessary: »First of all he realized that it is inessential for the machine to be able to move around (Scientific American). 2. without essence; unsubstantial; immaterial. –n.… …   Useful english dictionary

  • non|es|sen|tial — «NON uh SEHN shuhl», adjective, noun. –adj. not essential; not necessary: »Nonessential color is the result of an impurity in the mineral (Frederick H. Pough). SYNONYM(S): unnecessary. –n. a person or thing not essential …   Useful english dictionary

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