1. necessary: of the highest importance for achieving something It's essential that we arrive on time. an essential ingredient
2. basic: being the most basic element or feature of something or somebody reinforcing the essential organizational framework
3. defining: constituting the property or characteristic of something that makes it what it is
4. biochemistry required in diet: describes a nutrient that is not made by the body and is required in the diet for normal function essential vitamins and minerals
5. medicine without known cause: describes a disease that has no known cause
noun (plurales·sen·tials)
Definition:
1. something necessary: something that is absolutely necessary the essentials for survival an essential for this kind of work
2. fundamental aspect: a basic aspect of a particular subject You know the essentials of the case.
[14th century. < late Latin essentialis< Latin essentia (see essence)]
