transubstantiation

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

transubstantiation
    n 1: the Roman Catholic doctrine that the whole substance of the
         bread and the wine changes into the substance of the body
         and blood of Christ when consecrated in the Eucharist
    2: an act that changes the form or character or substance of
       something [syn: {transmutation}, {transubstantiation}]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Transubstantiation \Tran`sub*stan`ti*a"tion\, n. [LL.
   transubstantiatio: cf. F. transsubstantiation.]
   1. A change into another substance.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (R. C. Theol.) The doctrine held by Roman Catholics, that
      the bread and wine in the Mass is converted into the body
      and blood of Christ; -- distinguished from
      {consubstantiation}, and {impanation}.
      [1913 Webster]