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Glite Dictionary
body substance

body substance

3.5
A part or fluid from the body used to check health, like blood
  • noun
  • /ˈbɑdi ˈsʌbstəns/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sustancia corporal
  • Medical tests often examine samples of body substances such as urine or saliva.

Examples

  • Blood is a body substance that plays a crucial role in transporting oxygen and nutrients.

  • Blood is a vital body substance that carries oxygen.

  • Each body substance can provide important clues about a person's health.

  • The doctor explained how different body substances interact.

  • Blood is a body substance essential for delivering oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

  • Each body substance can reveal significant information regarding an individual's health status.

  • Medical professionals analyze samples of body substances, like urine or saliva, to assess health conditions.

Surface Forms

body substance singular
body substances plural

Morphology

body + substance

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'body' (the physical organism) + 'substance' (matter or material), i.e. materials or fluids that belong to or make up the body. This noun–noun combination follows a straightforward restriction pattern common across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

The compound body substance comes from the simple image of body, meaning a person or animal, and substance, meaning 'stuff' or 'material'. That's why it is used for the fluids and tissues of the body, like blood, urine, or saliva, especially in medical tests.