Meaning
essence, gist
- essential oil
- any species of trees or shrubs
In a sentence
Non ho capito l'essenza del suo messaggio.
I didn't understand the gist of his message.
Hai preso l'essenza di lavanda per il bagno?
Did you get the lavender essential oil for the bath?
In questo parco ci sono molte essenze diverse.
In this park there are many different tree species.
Word forms (2)
| Word | Word forms |
|---|---|
| essenza | feminine · singular |
| essenze | feminine · plural |
Usage notes
- For the abstract meaning, essenza is more literary or philosophical than sostanza; gist of speech is usually il succo or il nocciolo.
- For perfumes and cosmetics, essenza often means a concentrated fragrance or extract; olio essenziale is the standard term for essential oil.
- In forestry or botany, essenza is technical jargon for a tree or wood species; everyday Italian usually says specie or tipo di legno.