S: (n) substance (the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists) "DNA is the substance of our genes"
S: (n) substrate, substratum (a surface on which an organism grows or is attached) "the gardener talked about the proper substrate for acid-loving plants"
S: (n) stratum (one of several parallel layers of material arranged one on top of another (such as a layer of tissue or cells in an organism or a layer of sedimentary rock))
S: (n) layer (a relatively thin sheetlike expanse or region lying over or under another)
S: (n) region, part (the extended spatial location of something) "the farming regions of France"; "religions in all parts of the world"; "regions of outer space"
S: (n) entity (that which is perceived or known or inferred to have its own distinct existence (living or nonliving))
S: (n) substrate, substratum (an indigenous language that contributes features to the language of an invading people who impose their language on the indigenous population) "the Celtic languages of Britain are a substrate for English"