essential (
http://definr.com/essential)
adj 1: absolutely necessary; vitally necessary; "essential tools
and materials"; "funds essential to the completion of
the project"; "an indispensable worker" [syn:
indispensable]
2: basic and fundamental; "the essential feature" [ant:
inessential]
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,
of the essence(p)]
4: being or relating to or containing the essence of a plant
etc; "essential oil"
5: (law) applying to essential legal principles and rules of
right; "substantive law" [syn:
substantive] [ant:
adjective]
6: absolutely required and not to be used up or sacrificed
n : 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,
requirement,
requisite,
necessary] [ant:
inessential]