1. The body substance in which tissue cells are embedded
   "The ground substance provides support and nutrition to cells";
   - matrix, intercellular substance
    
2. The clear nongranular portion of the cytoplasm of a cell
   "The microscope revealed the ground substance surrounding the cell organelles";
   - hyaloplasm

Derived forms: ground substances

Type of: body substance, cytoplasm

Part of: bone, cartilage, connective tissue, gristle, os[2]

Encyclopedia: Ground substance