Essential - Definition

adj 1: absolutely necessary; vitally necessary; "essential tools
and materials"; "funds essential to the completion of the
project"; "an indispensable worker" [syn: essential,
indispensable]
2: basic and fundamental; "the essential feature" [ant:
inessential, unessential]
3: of the greatest importance; "the all-important subject of
disarmament"; "crucial information"; "in chess cool nerves
are of the essence" [syn: all-important(a), all
important(p), crucial, essential, of the essence(p)]
4: being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant
etc; "essential oil"
5: defining rights and duties as opposed to giving the rules by
which rights and duties are established; "substantive law"
[syn: substantive, essential] [ant: adjective,
procedural]
n 1: anything indispensable; "food and shelter are necessities
of life"; "the essentials of the good life"; "allow farmers
to buy their requirements under favorable conditions"; "a
place where the requisites of water fuel and fodder can be
obtained" [syn: necessity, essential, requirement,
requisite, necessary] [ant: inessential,
nonessential]